HARRISONBURG, Va. (WAVY) — James Madison University President Jonathan Alger is leaving after 12 years in Harrisonburg.

JMU announced on Monday that Alger, 60, will take over as president of American University on July 1, 2024. He’ll stay at JMU through the end of the spring semester.

“I have been deeply honored to work with all of you at this amazing institution. For professional and personal reasons, Mary Ann and I believe that this is the right time for us to embark together on one more chapter of our higher education journey,” Alger wrote in a statement. “… I always tell our students to “dream big,” and this upcoming transition now represents a dream come true for Mary Ann and me. American University has an academic profile that mirrors my deep interests in national and global policy, public service and law. Mary Ann and I met just down the street from American University at National Presbyterian Church, which was where I proposed to Mary Ann, where we were married and where our daughter, Eleanor, was baptized. Mary Ann and I both lived in the Washington metro area for over a decade as we were beginning our professional careers and we have always maintained close professional and personal ties there. It is as though our lives are now coming full circle.”

JMU’s Board of Visitors and the JMU community thanked Alger for his years of leadership during a period of major change for the university.

Under his tenure, JMU rose to an R2, a national research university, and was accepted into the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Applications are also up significantly, to more than 40,000 in 2024, and the university’s athletic department recently moved to the Sun Belt Conference (football moved to the FBS level of Division I).

“President Alger elevated the university to a place far beyond where JMU has ever been. Under his leadership, we have turned the page into the next chapter of the history of JMU,” said Board of Visitors Rector Maribeth Herod in a release on Monday. “JMU is no longer the hidden gem in the mountains because Jon has led us to national prominence and is leaving the university after accomplishing so much together. While Jon and Mary Ann will be missed immensely, the offerings at American University are a wonderful culmination of everything he is so passionate about.”

Other significant projects under Alger include major campus construction projects such as the Atlantic Union Bank Center arena, the Student Success Center and more. JMU also cited Alger’s work to start the Valley Scholars Program for first-generation students and work increase diversity and inclusion at JMU.

“JMU is a more diverse, inclusive and welcoming campus than ever before, and will continue to strive to open its doors to individuals from all backgrounds,” Alger added.

JMU was already in a period of significant change, with longtime Athletic Director Jeff Bourne set to step down this spring. Now JMU’s Board of Visitors will be tasked with two major hires.

They’re expected to approve an acting president to start on July 1, as well as start the process to hire a permanent replacement for Alger.

“Over the next few months, there will be much to do,” Alger said. “I believe firmly in the importance of finishing strong and will work closely with the Board of Visitors and administration to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Mary Ann and I will always love JMU and its people. It has been the privilege and opportunity of a lifetime to serve as your president for these past twelve years. I make this decision with confidence, knowing that we are surrounded by a talented and dedicated group of people who will continue to carry out JMU’s impactful mission, vision and values.”

The new president will be just the seventh president in JMU’s history. Alger will be American’s 16th president.

“Encouraging students to dream big is the heart of higher education, and the opportunity to join American University is a dream come true for me and my family. AU’s stellar academic profile and global impact reflect the unique and inspiring characteristics of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” Alger said in a release from AU. “Returning to the Washington, DC, region where our family has deep ties and collaborating with the AU community to create the next chapter of this great institution is an unparalleled opportunity.”

You can read more about Alger’s departure here.