Longest-serving Iowa State Provost Jonathan Wickert stepping down

AMES — Iowa State University is immediately launching a search for a new provost after its record-setting Senior Vice President Jonathan Wickert announced plans to step down this summer following a dozen years in the role.

Wickert — among the longest-serving provosts in the nation, setting records for longest-serving provost at Iowa State, among Iowa’s public universities, and in the Big 12 Conference — will join the ISU faculty as a mechanical engineering professor June 30.

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ISU President Wendy Wintersteen two years ago reappointed Wickert to a third five-year term as provost following a “favorable” 2019 Faculty Senate comprehensive review of his office that included a survey completed by more than 1,000 faculty and staff.

That survey, along with feedback from his direct reports and senior administrators, found “successes in promoting all areas of Iowa State’s mission,” including diversity across the university, transparent communication, and new initiatives.

Still, Wickert said in a statement on his resignation, “12 years in this role is a long time.”

“The next provost will bring other ideas and perspectives to continue moving the university forward,” he said.

Wickert, who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California-Berkeley in the 1980s, first joined the ISU faculty in 2007 as chair of the mechanical engineering department.

He served as Iowa State’s College of Engineering dean from 2009 to 2012 before beginning as provost in July 2012 following a national search.

"Being provost is a profound responsibility and an amazing experience, and I've enjoyed working day-to-day with President Wintersteen and other members of her senior leadership team,“ Wickert said in a statement. ”It's a privilege to see the entire landscape of Iowa State's teaching, research and extension missions, and to collaborate with a community of scholars and stakeholders who care deeply about our traditions and future.“

In announcing Wickert’s resignation, ISU administrators said a search for his successor will follow “a timeline and process similar to the university’s provost search in 2012” — when Wickert replaced former ISU Provost Elizabeth Hoffman.

Hoffman came to Iowa State in 2006 from her presidency with the University of Colorado System, and she asked former ISU President Steven Leath in February of 2012 to begin a search to replace her.

Wintersteen, who at that time was dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, chaired a 17-member search committee that Leath promptly compiled. By April, the university had announced three finalists — including Wickert and candidates from the universities of Nebraska and Cincinnati.

The university announced Wickert as its selection in May, with a start date of July 30, 2012.

“Provost Wickert has served Iowa State University with skill, intelligence and dedication,” Wintersteen said in a statement. “Around the region and nationally, he is a recognized leader for his insights and ability. I sincerely appreciate all Provost Wickert has done to support this great university.”

Time as provost

As provost, Wickert oversaw a broad array of academic and administrative functions — helping to implement key initiatives and achieve marked successes over the years, including:

As chief academic officer, Wickert also has collaborated with faculty across Iowa State’s departments and colleges.

“He is a goal-driven leader who clearly puts the academic mission of the university at the forefront of all of his actions, and I believe his commitment to shared governance and strong faculty leadership is proof of that,” Sarah Bennett-George, teaching professor and president of the Faculty Senate, said in a statement. “The university is stronger because of his years of service as provost.”

Wickert in the 2023 budget year made an annual base salary of $466,559, according to a state database. His new salary as an ISU professor hasn’t been made public.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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