Expanding Access and Opportunity Alger’s focus extends beyond the classroom. At JMU, he launched the Valley Scholars Program, connecting first-generation students from middle school through college with mentorship and scholarship opportunities. He hopes to bring similar pipeline efforts to AU and AUWCL.
“We need to build access earlier,” he said. “There are so many students from underrepresented or less advantaged backgrounds who would thrive in law, but we can’t wait until they apply. We have to help them get ready.”
With AU’s recent designation as an R1 institution for high research activity, Alger also sees new opportunities to elevate AUWCL’s scholarship and impact. “The kind of research happening at the law school — whether in intellectual property, human rights or public interest — is driving real-world change,” he said. “We want to support that with infrastructure, visibility and student engagement.”
A Message to Alumni: Be Our Bridge With more than 22,000 AUWCL alumni across the globe, Alger knows that the future of AU is deeply connected to its past. He calls on alumni to remain engaged — not just as donors, but as mentors, role models and recruiters.
Part of his campus-wide listening tour last fall, President Alger visited AUWCL for an engaging discussion with faculty and staff.
“You are our secret weapon,” he said. “Our alumni reflect the best of American University, and their involvement is vital to helping students envision what’s possible.”
Alger hopes to strengthen intergenerational connections throughout the AUWCL community. “We want our students to know they are part of something lifelong. That wherever they go, there’s an Eagle nearby ready to liſt them up.”
Music, Mentorship and the
Power of Connection Outside his professional life, Alger is also a musician. With a background in choral singing and international performances, he draws inspiration — and leadership lessons — from the arts.
“Music teaches collaboration, empathy and listening,” he said. “In many ways, it’s a model for what higher education should be — bringing different voices together to create something beautiful and lasting.”
He also credits strong mentors with shaping his path and urges alumni to play that role for the next generation. “Higher education is built on
relationships. That personal touch — that’s where transformation happens.”
Dreaming Big, Together As AU prepares to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, Alger sees the moment as an opportunity to recommit to the values of civic engagement, civil discourse and justice.
“We are in the right place at the right time,” he said. “And the law school is essential to our mission. Together, we can help close the gap between the ideals of ‘We the People’ and the realities of our world as we seek to form that ‘More Perfect Union.’”
For President Alger, it’s not just about leading a university — it’s about empowering a community to soar.
Once an Eagle, always an Eagle. Watch Here:
tinyurl.com/ Pres-Alger-Address
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW 11
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