HARRISONBURG, VA, April 08, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jonathan Alger has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Inspired by members of his family in education and his teachers, Mr. Alger has always loved learning. His parents and grandparents had a strong commitment to education, which influenced him and allowed him to develop a passion for how education can improve the lives of others. He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science, with high honors, from Swarthmore College in 1986 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, cum laude, from Harvard University in 1989.
Mr. Alger began his career as an associate in the labor and employment law section of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Washington, D.C., in 1989. He also served as an attorney-advisor for the U.S. Department of Education in the Office for Civil Rights, an associate counsel and counsel of the American Association of University Professors, and an assistant general counsel and adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan. Later, he served as the senior vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and adjunct faculty member at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, for seven and a half years. In 2012, Mr. Alger became the president of James Madison University, where he remains today.
Under Mr. Alger's leadership, James Madison University has developed many new programs and initiatives, including among others the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, the Madison Trust, the Engagement Fellows, the Task Force on Racial Equity, and a strategic partnership with the Republic of Kosovo. He also led the development of the Valley Scholars Program, which provides access for hundreds of local economically disadvantaged students to higher education. In addition, the university has more than doubled its endowment, exceeded its comprehensive campaign goal of $200M almost a year and a half ahead of schedule, received the highest level of autonomy under state law, and been recognized with the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
Throughout his career, Mr. Alger has done significant work in the field of diversity. While working at the University of Michigan, he played a key role on the legal team that defended two landmark cases that went to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003. He has also spoken and written extensively on topics such as leadership, civic engagement, and the role of higher education in supporting and sustaining democracy by preparing students to become involved, well-rounded citizens. For his efforts, Mr. Alger was the first person to be presented with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Standout Campus President Award for public institutions in 2019. He has also received distinguished service and life member awards from the National Association of College and University Attorneys, among other important accolades. Recently in 2020, he was named to the Virginia 500/2020 Power List by Virginia Business.
As a national leader in higher education, Mr. Alger currently serves on the boards of the Association of American Colleges & Universities and Campus Compact, as well as the NCAA's Division I Infractions Appeals Committee. He is also a member of the Council on Competitiveness and the Council on Foreign Relations. Over the years, Mr. Alger has attributed his professional success to his love and continued curiosity for learning. He has always sought to explore how education can make a positive difference in the world. In the coming years, he plans to continue serving as a leader in American higher education and a voice for engaged learning, and community and civic engagement.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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