Search for University of Northern Iowa president nets 40-plus applicants

CEDAR FALLS - A committee searching for the next University of Northern Iowa president has received more than 40 applications, and the group meets next week to review the list in hopes of whittling it down to six or seven semifinalists.

The deadline for applications to replace former UNI President William Ruud was Wednesday, and Board of Regents President Pro Tem Katie Mulholland, who is co-chairing the search committee, told her colleagues Thursday the group now is going through the submitted documents.

'It's very very exciting,” she said. 'On Oct. 26, the committee will meet to review all of those applications.”

The group is planning to interview its semifinalists at an off-site location Nov. 11-12, after which the group is to identify three to four finalists to bring to campus and introduce publicly.

Mulholland said Thursday those campus visits are scheduled between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 - and possibly Dec. 3, if needed. Two days later, on Dec. 5, the search committee is to meet with the Board of Regents to share thoughts on the candidates, including campus feedback.

That is different from the committee charged last year to find a new University of Iowa president. That committee was disbanded after identifying finalists, and the Board of Regents collected feedback independently following town hall forums with the four top candidates.

The board hired UI President Bruce Harreld despite widespread criticism of his candidacy, largely related to his lack of academic administrative experience.

Mulholland has highlighted the UNI committee's meeting with the board as an important change from the UI search. The Board of Regents is to meet after talking with the committee on Dec. 5. The board is expected to conduct final interviews with candidates Dec. 6 and then make a selection.

Details about the UNI applicants haven't been made public - including whether the pool includes gender, racial and experiential diversity.

The position advertisement indicates applicants 'should possess” significant senior-level executive experience in an academic institution.

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