Editors note: This story has been updated to include Schmidt’s comments to the university at Wednesday’s announcement.
James Madison University has announced the selection of its next President, James C. Schmidt, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.
The announcement was made during a special meeting of the Board of Visitors on Wednesday afternoon. Schmidt will succeed acting president Charlie King, who took over after Jonathan Alger’s resignation at the end of June 2024 to become president of American University in Washington, D.C.
Schmidt has served as Chancellor of UW-Eau Claire since November 2013. Before this role, he was Vice President for University Advancement at Winona State University (WSU) and Executive Director of the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees.
Originally from Minnesota, Schmidt holds a Doctorate of Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Winona State University.
Schmidt played a key role in securing public and private funding for constructing new athletic and science buildings on the UWEC campus during his tenure as chancellor.
According to articles written about Schmidt, he used Twitter for many years to connect informally with students, using the handle @ChancellorJim, often posting about UWEC sports victories and humorous insights about campus life.
Schmidt will serve as JMU’s seventh president and assured the JMU community that he will listen to the concerns of students, faculty, staff, and the broader Harrisonburg community as he takes on his new role.
Schmidt wants to develop a new strategic plan to “maintain the momentum for long-term success” and establish the university as “a center of innovation.”
“It’s time to dream bigger,” Schmidt said. “There is nothing that can stop an institution like this.”
He said he aims to promote innovation through JMU X-Labs, explore new areas of focus, and support faculty in their research and teaching.
“I also want the JMU faculty to hear loud and clear that your teaching, research and service are the lifeblood of this institution, and you will have an unwavering, unyielding supporter in the president’s office.”
Schmidt also emphasized his hope for stronger partnerships with Harrisonburg and Rockingham County leaders.
“To my Harrisonburg and Rockingham County colleagues, I want you to know that we will make community collaboration a priority,” he said.
The process to find JMU’s new president
The months-long search for a new president included multiple listening sessions with students, faculty, parents, alumni, and the broader Harrisonburg community throughout the summer and fall of 2024. Sessions took place across the state, including Richmond, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach.
“We had a very important constituency that we talked to, and that was the Harrisonburg community,” said Kay Coles James, Board of Visitors member and chair of the Presidential Search Committee told The Citizen last fall. “We gave the community leaders an opportunity to come in and talk about what was important to them in the next president of James Madison University.”
James stated that community leaders in Harrisonburg shared their hopes for maintaining open lines of communication with university leaders and collaborating to solve problems together.
James stated that the overwhelming response to those sessions was for someone who would protect and value JMU’s culture—a “culture of kindness, a culture of inclusivity, a culture of generosity.”
“It became clear that whoever is the next president of James Madison University must bleed purple,” James said. “They had to have a high regard for an academic community, and they had to love sports. We heard that over and over again.”
Bigger university, unique challenges
Schmidt will lead a significantly larger student body transitioning to JMU, which includes some academic and athletic differences.
According to its website, EW-Eau Claire has approximately 9,000 students and offers over 200 academic programs, which include 109 undergraduate programs,15 graduate-level programs, along with undergraduate and graduate certificates.
JMU has an enrollment of over 21,000 students and offers a total of 139 academic programs, which include 76 undergraduate programs, 54 master’s programs, and 8 doctoral programs.
The athletic programs between the universities are much different from each other, which Schmidt will have to navigate.
JMU athletics has experienced a rise in talent and popularity by joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022, which is affiliated with NCAA Division I. The UWEC athletics program, known as the Blugolds, competes in NCAA Division III and is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Schmidt concluded his remarks by acknowledging that higher education has become “a bit of a punching bag,” but urged the JMU community to “lift up their heads.”
“The work we do together is a noble effort,” Schmidt said. “One that lifts lives, creates societies, and, dare I say, is the cornerstone of the American dream—that everyone has an opportunity to lift themselves. That is our work, and it is worth holding our heads high for.”
Schmidt will officially begin at JMU on July 1.
