James Madison University appoints Jonathan Alger as the university's sixth president.

Alger is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard Law School.

He is currently the Vice President and General Counsel for Rutgers University.

He was unanimously appointed by the university's Board of Visitors on Monday, and then delivered an acceptance speech at the Forbes Center on campus.

He wasted no time in laying out his vision for JMU to become an "engaged" university.

"This vision is not that of an isolated ivory tower. But, rather an institution that is fully engaged with ideas and the world," Alger says.

He was presented to students and staff by Jim Hartman, the rector of the JMU Board of Visitors. Hartman aided in the near year-long search for a president. That search was kept very confidential.

"It's just an absolute 'have to.' You can imagine if you're the president of a university, but if you are interested in this job, and it's not going to be confidential, you're afraid you'll lose your job if you don't get this one, so than you're not going to apply," Hartman says.

Alger joins the JMU family at a time when there's been several tragic events in recent months, including the loss of students and faculty members.

It's a time, he says, when leadership is needed most.

"It also is a time when people can come together and share that sense of, look, we're in this together. We support each other. Those times of tragedy, I think, sometimes the very best of the university can come out," Alger says.

Alger will take office on July 1st, 2012. He turns 48 in January. He will be joined in the Valley by his wife Mary Ann, and 13-year old daughter Eleanor.

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