University of Iowa names third finalist for vice president post

A University of Arkansas official is the third and final candidate to become the new vice president for strategic communication at the University of Iowa.

John N. Diamond, associate vice chancellor for university relations at the University of Arkansas, will visit the UI Wednesday for interviews and a public forum. Two other finalists, Jeff Iseminger, interim vice president for university advancement and marketing at Minnesota State University in Mankato, and Joseph A. Brennan, associate vice president for university communications at the State University of New York at Buffalo, visited campus Thursday and Monday.

Diamond will take part in a public forum from 2 to 3 p.m. in 2520D University Capitol Centre Wednesday.

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

Diamond has held his current position since 2010 and oversees the university's strategic communications, marketing and brand management. He manages a staff of 44, serves on the chancellor's administrative policy council, and is a partner and collaborator with the associate vice chancellors for alumni affairs and development. He also is the chief university spokesperson on policy matters and sensitive, high-profile issues, according to the UI statement.

He also served in administrative positions for the University of Maine system in Bangor from 2002 to 2010, the  University of Maine in Orono from 1992 to 2002 and as an assistant professor of journalism and mass communication at the University of Maine from 1989 to 1992.

He has an master's degree in speech communication and a bachelor's degree in journalism, both from the University of Maine, as well as 63 credit hours toward an interdisciplinary doctorate in communication and public administration.

Tom Rocklin, the UI vice president for student life who is co-chairing the search, said he expects the search committee will pass its recommendations and thoughts on to Mason late this week or early next week, with the president making her decision after that.