Regents announce presidential search committee, search firm

The search for the next president of Iowa State University is moving forward. Earlier this week, the Iowa Board of Regents announced a 12-member presidential search committee and a search firm to assist with the process.

Regent JC Risewick and Iowa State Faculty Senate president Meghan Gillette will serve as co-chairs of the committee. The other members are listed below. The search committee will work to identify presidential finalists for the regents' consideration.

Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which assisted with Iowa State's last presidential search, will work with the committee to develop a timeline, recruit potential candidates and facilitate candidate interviews. Roderick McDavis, managing principal of AGB Search, provided an overview of best practices for presidential searches during Tuesday's regents meeting in Iowa City. McDavis told the board most searches take an average of five to six months.

President Wendy Wintersteen announced in May her plans to retire in January 2026. Wintersteen became the first woman and second ISU alum to hold the university's highest office when she was named the 16th president of Iowa State in 2017.

Search committee

Co-chairs

• Meghan Gillette, president, Faculty Senate; and associate teaching professor in human development and family studies
• JC Risewick, member, Iowa Board of Regents

Members

• Muhammad Azhan, president, Graduate and Professional Student Senate
• Colby Brandt, president, Student Government
• Robert Cramer, member, Iowa Board of Regents
• Tim Day, University Professor of biomedical sciences
• Cara Heiden, ISU alumnus and retired co-president, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
• Greta Rouse, president pro tem, Iowa Board of Regents
• Patrick Schnable, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences (agronomy)
• Jennifer Schroeder, president-elect, Professional and Scientific Council; and Birch team supervisor, finance service delivery
• Kurt Tjaden, member, Iowa Board of Regents
• Roger Underwood, ISU alumnus and member of the board of directors, Pivot Bio