Campus Compact announces the election of Jonathan R. Alger, President of James Madison University (JMU), as a member to its Board of Directors. Campus Compact’s Board guides the organization in pursuing its mission of advancing the public purposes of higher education. The board is comprised of college and university presidents and chancellors, along with leaders in the corporate, philanthropic, and citizen sectors. Board members are elected for three-year terms.

As president at JMU since 2012, Alger has focused on expanding the role of civic and community engagement in the lives of students. He served as a key leader of a successful effort to build support across Virginia for a higher education commitment to creating service year opportunities for college students and recent graduates.

Alger served previously as senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He has also served as assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan, counsel for the American Association of University Professors, and as attorney- advisor in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Alger has advised universities nationwide on how to build and sustain diversity initiatives and programs, and has worked with the American Association of University Professors to help institutions across the country address issues of academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, due process and discrimination.

“With his deep experience and evident commitment to the public purposes of higher education, Jon Alger will be a great contributor to our Board,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “We are fortunate to have a Board filled with thoughtful and collaborative leaders, and Jon brings that same spirit to his work on campus and around the country.”

Campus Compact is a national network of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education by deepening institutions’ ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. Campus Compact comprises a national office based in Boston, MA, and 33 state and regional affiliates.