Governor names Meredith’s Steve Lacy, Republican Peter Cownie to Iowa Board of Regents

IOWA CITY — Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday named one of the advisory council members leading a new University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom to serve as a regent on the board that governs all three of Iowa’s public universities.

Steve Lacy served as CEO of the Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation for more than a decade after first joining the media company in 1998 as its chief financial officer before. He was named chief executive officer in 2006 and executive chairman in 2018.

Following his 2020 retirement, Lacy became chair-CEO adviser and executive peer board leader at Vistage Worldwide, Inc. — coaching and advising small and midsize businesses “on the fundamentals of growth and success,” according to the governor’s announcement of his appointment to the Board of Regents.

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Joining Lacy in filling to vacancies on the board is Peter Cownie, who served as a Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2008 to 2018 and was a member of several legislative committees during his tenure, including Education, Ways & Means, State Government Efficiency, and more.

He’s the son of Patty Cownie, who served on the Board of Regents from 2015 to 2021 — much of which she spent as president pro tem.

Cownie and Lacy replace past board President Sherry Bates, who resigned earlier this month, and David Barker, who left the board in October after being appointed by the Trump administration to serve as U.S. assistant secretary for postsecondary education.

State law requires the nine-member board to maintain gender and political balance — with no more than five members of one party.

Barker’s departure left the board with four Republicans, and Bates’ exit brought the independents down to two — with regent Nancy Dunkel serving as the sole Democrat. The gender balance — before Friday’s appointments — sat at three men and four women.

The appointments of Cownie and Lacy give the men the edge now. And Cownie brings the Republican tally back to five — including board President Robert Cramer, JC Risewick, Christine Hensley, and Greta Rouse.

Board president pro tem Kurt Tjaden identifies as an independent, as does the student regent Lucy Gipple.

Lacy — in identifying himself for the UI Center for Intellectual Freedom council — said he’s a Democrat, bringing that party’s count up to two.

But Lacy also gave nearly $9,000 to Reynolds in 2021 and 2022 and last year publicly endorsed Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley during the primary.

“Steve is an accomplished executive with proven success turning an Iowa-grown publishing company into a national media conglomerate with instant brand recognition,” Reynolds said Friday in announcing his appointment. “He has demonstrated the ability to operate a highly functioning private organization — an essential asset as he steps into this new role working alongside other regents with the goal of propelling our state universities into the next generation of educational excellence.”

Lacy thanked the governor for giving him the opportunity to serve as a regent.

“I have enjoyed helping develop and successfully launch the Center for Intellectual Freedom, including participation at the inaugural event earlier in December with several existing Regents. I am anxious to work with the Board of Regents to advance higher education in Iowa.”

The Legislature and governor last session created a new Center for Intellectual Freedom to be based on the UI campus but run by an advisory council to report directly to the Board of Regents.

The council includes just one UI representatives and 13 out-of-state faculty — most of whom have expressed conservative ideology.

Of Cownie — who served as president of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa from 2008 to 2013 and was named in 2013 executive director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation — Reynolds said he brings a “strong background in business leadership, community engagement, and strategic planning.”

“His experience and commitment to public service will be a valuable asset as the Board of Regents continues its important work to ensure our universities remain accessible, affordable, and focused on student success,” she said.

Cownie, after thanking the governor, said, “I look forward to working to ensure our Regents institutions are providing a world class education for our students while also growing our economy in Iowa."

Lacy graduated from Kansas State University with a Master of Business Administration in 1977. In 2024, he and his wife Cathy Wiltfong Lacy were awarded the Kansas State University Medal of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed on KSU alumni, for their service and contributions to campus.

Peter is a Des Moines native and graduate of Dowling Catholic High School. He “attended the University of Virginia for an undergraduate degree” and got a master of public administration from Drake University.

Both must receive two-thirds senate confirmation for the regent appointment.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com