James Madison University
President
Founded in 1908 in Harrisonburg, Virginia at the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, James Madison University (JMU or Madison) is fast becoming one of the nation’s leading lights in higher education. With only six sitting presidents in its 116-year history, Madison is an institution where presidents preside over periods of sustained and exciting progress.
JMU is home to 20,346 undergraduates and 1,878 graduate students (21% of whom are from out-of-state), 1,690 full-time faculty, 441 part-time faculty and 1,335 full-time staff. The culture on campus is distinctively collaborative, inclusive and service-oriented. The university embraces the motto “Being the Change,” reflecting a commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Founded nearly 25 years ago, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement was created to instill even more deeply in the Madison community the awareness that citizenship is as important as equipping oneself for a career. In 2024, JMU received the Carnegie Foundation’s “Leadership for Public Purpose” designation.
Recently classified as an R2 Doctoral University with High Research Activity by the Carnegie Commission, JMU is enjoying a rapid ascent in popularity and national rankings. Applications to the university are up nearly 80% over the last three years, with an increasing portion coming from out-of-state as name recognition continues to expand nationally. In 2025, the Wall Street Journal ranked JMU the #27 public university in the U.S. The retention rate of 90% for the most recent cohort of first-time, full-time undergraduate students is well above the national four-year institution retention rate of 75%; in addition, more than 95% of alumni report positive career outcomes in their first year after graduation.
Through eight academic colleges, JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, sciences, technology, education and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, JMU offers 37.2% of classes with fewer than 20 students. Investigators from JMU academic units, institutes, centers and offices secured 202 grant awards from external funders for a total of more than $34 million in FY23, a 92% increase since FY19.
JMU excels in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Competing nationally in 17 sports, JMU currently sits at the top of all Virginia public universities in winning performance across all sports and sent the football team to its first bowl game during the 2023-24 academic year.
Finances at JMU are on a bedrock foundation, with the university enjoying Level III autonomy in the Virginia system of public higher education, an annual operating budget of nearly $725 million and a Fitch Bond Rating of AA-. Philanthropic giving to JMU is in growth mode with the Unleashed campaign, which wrapped in 2022, raising a quarter-of-a-billion dollars and effectively doubling annual fundraising totals overall.
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The outdoor adventure capital of the Shenandoah Valley, Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia. Furthermore, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with over 70 languages spoken in the city school district. The city’s vibrant downtown district is a designated First Arts and Cultural District, the first Culinary District of Virginia, and an award-winning Main Street Community.
As the chief executive officer and reporting to the university’s Board of Visitors, the President will lead the institution’s vision and strategic direction; enhance academic excellence and build research capacity; ensure an exceptional student experience; diversify revenue streams, secure resources, and grow endowment; promote a diverse and inclusive community; strengthen JMU’s relationship with the broader region; and support a strong intercollegiate athletics program.
The successful candidate will embody the shared values of James Madison University, including academic quality, community, diversity, innovation, integrity and student focus. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strategic vision and leadership; experience identifying talent and building a team; passion for higher education; success at fundraising and revenue generation; a record of fostering inclusive excellence; passion for intercollegiate athletics; financial acumen; exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills; a student-centered outlook; change management experience; and strong integrity and academic values.
The full Presidential Search Prospectus can be found at https://bit.ly/JMUPresident.
Preferred
Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Interested candidates should submit confidentially, in electronic form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files preferred), a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to:
Jett Pihakis, Steve Newton, and Joi Hayes-Scott
Consultants to the Search Committee
Russell Reynolds Associates
JMU.President@russellreynolds.com
(202) 654-7800
Though all materials received will be reviewed, please submit materials by November 20, 2024 for priority consideration.
James Madison University does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination in its employment, programs, activities, and admissions on the basis of age, color, disability, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information (including family medical history), marital status, military status (including veteran status), national origin (including ethnicity), parental status, political affiliation, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or on any basis protected by law, unless otherwise permitted or required by law. JMU complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, affirmative action, and anti-harassment. The responsibility for overall coordination, monitoring and information dissemination about JMU’s program of equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and affirmative action is assigned to the Office of Equal Opportunity. Inquiries or complaints may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity via OEO website, email oeo@jmu.edu, or phone (540) 568-6991.
JMU prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment including sexual assault and other forms of inter-personal violence. The responsibility for overall coordination, monitoring and information dissemination about JMU’s Title IX program is assigned to the Title IX Coordinator. Inquiries or complaints may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator: Laura Sider Jost via Title IX website, email siderlk@jmu.edu or phone (540) 568-5219.
