Iowa City Regina appoints interim president to full-time role

IOWA CITY – A familiar face will serve as Iowa City Regina's president and CEO – Lee Iben, who had been filling those roles on an interim basis.

The Regina Catholic Education Center's school board announced Iben's appointment Thursday. It takes effect immediately.

“He brings with him a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the development and operations of the president model specifically and Regina as a whole,” school board Chairman Matt Pacha said in a statement.

Iben, age 49, had been interim president and CEO of the K-12 Catholic school since July 1, following the departure of Carol Trueg to Holy Family Catholic Schools in Dubuque. He took on the interim role after a search committee failed to pick a replacement to Trueg, saying the ideal candidate wasn't found.

Iben, who served on the school board from 2002-08, the last three years as chairman, said he had no intention of seeking the full-time president/CEO position when he started this summer.

“If you would have asked me a year ago if I would be president of Regina, no way,” he said.

But he enjoys the job, and the search committee started gauging his interest a few months ago. The committee reconvened in November, and Iben said his understanding is members discussed whether to re-open the search or make him an offer, and they chose the latter.

Pacha did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Iben's professional background is in marketing, advertising and business management. He said Catholic schools typically have presidents from the education or business fields.

His focus will be on strategic planning, working with teachers and staff to enhance educational offerings and fundraising. He said the principals and teachers are well qualified to guide the educational effort and his lack of experience in education prior to the interim role should not be a concern.

Regina has 847 students this school year, Iben said.

Iben and his wife, Polly, have had four children attend Regina.