Saunders is new institutional research leader

Welcome.

Kevin Saunders is Iowa State's executive director of institutional research (IR), joining the team on Nov. 18. The IR team collects, analyzes, interprets and disseminates information on all aspects of the university to support institutional planning, decision making and reporting.

Saunders returns to Iowa State after 15 years in the provost's office at Drake University, Des Moines. He served as director of institutional research and assessment and accreditation liaison officer (2012-25) and director of academic assessment (2010-12). Most recently, he was a member of Drake's Workday implementation steering committee and its 3+ Degree Program task force. He has served on the Higher Learning Commission's peer corps since 2015. In that capacity, he works as a team chair to lead institutional reviews for accreditation.

Prior to his service at Drake, he worked in several roles at Iowa State, including coordinator of continuous academic program improvement in the office of the senior vice president and provost (2005-10); and research associate in the Research Institute for Studies in Education (2003-05).

Saunders earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and sociology and a master's degree in higher education administration, all from Drake University, and a doctoral degree in higher education from Iowa State.

Saunders' office is in Suite 203 of the Kingland Building. He can be reached by email at ksaund@iastate.edu, by phone at 294-8539.