Dear AU Community,

Welcome to the 2024–25 academic year! As classes get underway today on AU’s main campus, the energy and enthusiasm are palpable. Last week, our community came together to welcome our first-year students at Opening Convocation, orientation, move-in, and more. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make those first days on campus a little bit easier for our students and families. I hope that you are excited as I am to get started on what promises to be a year full of learning, connection, and fun.

Even though this is my first year as AU president, I’ve spent most of my career in higher education with the last 12 years as president at James Madison University. The magic and promise of a new academic year never get old.

To help kick off our first year together, here are five things I’m looking forward to doing in my first year on campus: 

Enjoying fall and spring on campus—not necessarily in that order. From the moment I stepped foot on AU’s campus—a 90-acre accredited arboretum and gardens—I was struck by the incredible natural beauty. I’m looking forward to seeing the fall colors descend on our 5,000 trees and the pop of springtime flowers across campus. And while fall and spring may be my favorite seasons (despite my allergies!), thanks to our hardworking Facilities Management team, there’s something in bloom every season of the year.

Supporting our Eagle student-athletes and performing artists. My wife Mary Ann and I are training to become diehard Eagle fans – look for us on the sidelines wearing our red and blue and cheering almost as loudly as Clawed. We will also be attending as many artistic performances as possible because our whole family has been involved in music, theatre and the arts for many years.  Go Eagles!

Coming together for a concert. Students in Kogod’s business and entertainment program are hard at work planning an unforgettable concert in Bender Arena on October 24. Stay tuned for more information and get ready to dance!  

Engaging in exciting, thoughtful programming. Join me this Wednesday on the quad for Celebrate AU, featuring food, music, lawn games, and more. We’ll also kick off Dialogue across Differences, a key piece of the Civic Life initiative—a new, university-wide effort focused on civic education and engagement and centered around civil discourse. All of these events are a chance to come together as a community, learn, get to know each other, and build a common spirit that is core to our experience as AU Eagles.

Getting to know all of you. Over the next year, I will be spending a lot of time listening to and learning from you. I want to hear your big dreams for your future and for our future here at AU. 

I’d love to hear what excites you about being an Eagle. Send me an email at president@american.edu or stop me on the quad or in TDR and introduce yourself. I look forward to connecting, engaging, and working together over the next year and beyond. 

With warm regards,
Jon 
Jonathan R. Alger
President