James Madison University (JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the institution was renamed Madison College in 1938 in honor of President James Madison and then James Madison University in 1977.[6] It is situated in the Shenandoah Valley, just west of Massanutten Mountain.
The university’s tagline, “Being the Change“, was created to embody the idea of each person in the JMU community finding their own ways to make a difference in the world. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi‘s quote, “be the change you wish to see in the world,” professors, students, alumni, and donors have embraced the notion of changing the world since the university’s founding.