Clery Center Appoints Higher Education
and Nonprofit Leader as Executive Director

Clery Center is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors have named Bob Alig as our new Executive Director. Alig brings a wealth of higher education and nonprofit leadership experience and a passion for campus safety, and he looks forward to continuing Clery Center’s 35-plus-year legacy of working together with colleges and universities to create safer campuses. 

“Following an extensive and comprehensive national search, we are thrilled to welcome Bob to Clery Center,” said Sheilah Vance, Esq., Chair of the Board of Directors. “With an impressive track record of working in higher education and for K-12 nonprofit organizations, inspiring teams of people, and engaging individuals, Bob will steer us through our next era of growth, impact, and excellence.”

Alig is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of experience dedicated to enhancing higher education and K-12 environments through safety, accessibility, and student-centered initiatives. As Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Alig prioritized comprehensive student welfare alongside academic excellence, leading global outreach initiatives anchored by inclusive recruitment strategies. He cultivated environments where students felt secure, supported, and empowered to achieve personal and professional success. Alig served as Assistant Vice President of University of Pennsylvania’s Alumni Relations, and he revitalized and reimagined Penn’s Alumni Relations office for several years, making it a true conduit for Penn’s Development program. Alig’s foray into for-profit education with the St. George’s University in a key alumni affairs role allowed him to unite global alumni communities, current students, and institutional stakeholders to support student development through safe and inclusive programming.

Alig’s tenure as Vice President of the Middle States Region of the College Board showcased his dedication to equity and access in education. He spearheaded initiatives that significantly increased Advanced Placement participation and performance among underrepresented communities, reinforcing the link between student well-being and academic achievement. Deeply committed to student safety and success, Alig most recently played an important role with Minds Matter, a national nonprofit focused on college access for first-generation and low-income students. As Interim Co-CEO and a longtime board member, he served as a thought leader on college readiness assessments and the broader higher education landscape.

A graduate of Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences and Wharton’s MBA program, Alig brings operational expertise, strategic vision, and a dedication to student welfare. Alig is a member of the Wissahickon Wanderers Running Club and has completed 17 marathons, including Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City, and Paris, France. He has been a member and conference speaker for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and he was selected by Stanford University for the Inaugural LGBTQ Executive Leadership Program in August 2016.

“Keeping campuses safe and helping them thrive isn’t just a professional mission—it’s personal with me,” Alig commented. “I am honored and energized to be the next Executive Director of the Clery Center, where my commitment to student well-being, evidence-based strategy, and servant leadership will drive measurable change nationwide. In concert with the Board and the staff, we will transform today’s campus safety challenges into tomorrow’s proven solutions and make an enduring difference for all students and the institutions that serve them.”

“We were looking for a candidate who could lead through challenging times and position Clery Center to thrive in the new national landscape,” said Maureen Rush, Chair of the Search Committee. “We believe that Bob possesses the intersection of business expertise, development experience, and a passion for campus safety, making him the perfect choice to honor the legacy of Jeanne Clery and the vision of Howard and Connie Clery.”

Andrew Wheeler from Lincoln Leadership assisted Clery Center’s Board with the Executive Director search. Lincoln Leadership is an experienced executive search firm focusing on nonprofits, higher education and academic medicine. Alig officially joined Clery Center on June 2.