JMU Taps Rutgers VP As Next University President [VIDEO]

James Madison University's board of visitors has chosen the senior vice president of Rutgers University  to become the school's sixth president. Jonathan Alger was named to JMU's top post on Monday.

At Rutgers, Alger also served as general counsel.

Alger is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Swarthmore College. Before coming to Rutgers Alger was assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan and worked as counsel for the American Association of University Professors.

Alger will replace JMU President Linwood Rose, who is retiring in June. In an acceptance speech, Alger said JMU can serve as a national model for what it means for a university to be fully engaged with ideas and the world in the 21st Century.

JMU is located in Harrisonburg.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)