"James Madison University has named a Wisconsin university leader, James C. Schmidt, as its next president. The university's board of visitors approved the hire Wednesday.

Schmidt is the top official, or chancellor, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a role he has held since 2013. He starts at JMU on July 1. 

Schmidt, 60, replaces Jonathan Alger, who left last year to become president of American University in Washington. Charlie King has been JMU's interim president since July. 

The university in Harrisonburg has about 23,000 students," reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.