Mary Ann Alger contributes in many ways to the JMU community and is sometimes referred to as the university’s top volunteer. She was a co-founder of Women for Madison in 2013 and is passionate about guiding young women to be philanthropic. Using her skills in business and entrepreneurship, Mary Ann is an advisor to the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship, where she coaches startup companies and judges business plan competitions. Additionally, she is a frequent guest speaker in classrooms and at conferences.  She is actively involved with the Valley Scholars as a mentor and leader.  Mary Ann is also an active fundraiser and relationship-builder, and she enjoys sports and performing arts.

Mary Ann has been active in the local community, serving on a variety of boards and advisory councils.  Her primary interests are economic development and early childhood reading, a connection Mary Ann readily makes.

The Algers support JMU financially in numerous ways, most notably Valley Scholars (a program they launched), the general scholarship fund, athletics, faculty support, and the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship.

An honors graduate of Auburn University with degrees in international business and Spanish, Mary Ann received an MBA from the University of Miami and spent many years working in the venture capital sector in Latin America.