President Mason leaves mixed legacy among faculty, students

Many University of Iowa faculty, students, and staff are sad to see President Sally Mason retire.

But some say they are eager for new leadership.

Mason, a scientist by training, was generally regarded as a friend of the UI faculty.

'At the heart of everything, she's a faculty member,” said Dr. Victoria Sharp, a urology professor and UI Hospitals and Clinics chief of staff. 'She ...

understands what we do here.”

Sharp, who was Faculty Senate chairwoman from 2007-2008, and has served on Mason's faculty cabinet since 2013, said the president always seeks input from faculty, staff, and students.

'The (Board of) Regents are her administrative bosses, but she felt she had to be true to the faculty and people at the university,” Sharp said.

But Michael O'Hara, a psychology professor who served as Faculty Senate president in 2008-2009 and is a member of the Presidential Committee on Athletics, said, 'I do know she would fight for us very hard with the regents. And I get the feeling they didn't like that.”

As with many university presidents, Mason is something of a celebrity among students.

However, Jackie Otting, a UI senior studying Chinese and foreign language education, pointed to Mason's comment in the Daily Iowan in February that ending sexual assault was 'probably not a realistic goal just given human nature.” Mason apologized for the remark and said she did not condone sexual assault.

Mason made an impact on the community at large. She served since 2009 on the board of directors for the UNESCO City of Literature in Iowa City. She also hosted an annual event at the UI President's Residence to raise money for scholarships for budding writers and provided advice to the new organization, Executive Director John Kenyon said.