University of Iowa names second candidate for vice president post

An administrator from the State University of New York at Buffalo is the second finalist vying to become the University of Iowa's new vice president for strategic communication.

Joseph A. Brennan, associate vice president for university communications at SUNY Buffalo, will visit the UI Monday, as the second of three finalists for the post. Brennan will take part in a public forum from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 2520D University Capitol Centre.

The first finalist, Jeff Iseminger, was on campus Thursday. He is interim vice president for university advancement and marketing at Minnesota State University in Mankato. The third finalist will be announced the day before a planned campus visit Wednesday.

Brennan has been in his current role since 2008, serving as chief communication officer for the 29,000-student research university and leading the school's communication strategy, policy and planning. He manages a 32-person team and oversees a $2.5 million annual budget.

He's held previous communication and marketing posts at Ohio University, the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., and the University of Toledo. Brennan has a doctoral degree in English from SUNY Buffalo, a master's of business administration in marketing from the University of the Pacific and a bachelor's degree in English and psychology from Wayne State University.

The UI position has been filled on an interim basis by Mark Braun, chief of staff to UI President Sally Mason, since former vice president Tysen Kendig left in December.