NEWS Defending Democracy, Shaping the Future
From civic engagement to legal innovation, President Jonathan R. Alger sees AUWCL at the heart of AU’s mission to shape changemakers and defend democracy.
BY KEITH PIERCE
When Jonathan R. Alger was inaugurated as American University’s 16th president, he spoke passionately of big dreams, civic pluralism and building bridges across generations. It’s a message rooted not just in aspiration, but in action — a vision where the Washington College of Law plays a central, indispensable role.
“The law school can and should be a leader in our Civic Life initiative,” Alger said during a recent conversation with Interim Dean Heather Hughes. “Legal education teaches us how to argue with respect, solve problems creatively and engage across differences — skills that are essential for democracy and public life.”
Alger, a higher education attorney and former president of James Madison University, brings a unique combination of legal expertise and educational leadership to AU. A Harvard Law graduate with a career that includes landmark Supreme Court cases on diversity in admissions, he views inclusion and excellence as inseparable. “We are a stronger university — and a stronger law school — when we welcome individuals from all backgrounds,” he said.
A Vision Anchored in Civic Engagement From day one, President Alger has emphasized the university’s role in preparing changemakers. His Civic Life initiative brings together faculty,
10 THE ADVOCATE SUMMER/FALL 2025
“ AU is a place where big dreams are nurtured and realized. We must be the intellectual arsenal of democracy.”
staff and students across disciplines to practice civil discourse, tackle grand societal challenges and foster leadership rooted in values.
“AU is a place where big dreams are nurtured and realized,” Alger said in his inaugural address. “We must be the intellectual arsenal of democracy.”
For AUWCL, that vision is already in motion. Alger sees the law school’s legacy of public service — founded by women, committed to access — as foundational to AU’s mission.
“There’s a real power in the story of WCL,” he noted. “Our students come here because they’re hungry to learn, to serve and to live lives of purpose.”
He was struck by what he heard during his listening tour with students and faculty: a collaborative culture, a deep commitment to advocacy and a different definition of success. “Our students care about justice and impact, not just job titles or salaries,” he said. “That grit and resilience — they’re refreshing and inspiring.”
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