American University’s Board of Trustees selected Kogod School of Business dean David Marchick to become interim president effective July 1, following the planned departure of current president Jonathan Alger on June 30. The vote was unanimous, with trustees citing Marchick’s leadership during a period of rapid academic and AI-focused transformation. Marchick previously accelerated Kogod’s positioning through what AU described as “private sector speed,” including an AI-first business education push. Under his tenure, Kogod’s MBA program climbed 30 spots in U.S. News rankings and reached top-50 status, while entrepreneurship and sustainability rankings rose as well. The transition matters for governance and strategy: interim presidents often set priorities for budgets, academic planning, and competitive positioning ahead of a longer search cycle.