Iowa State provost resigned months before announcement, search committee announced

Although long-serving Iowa State University Provost Jonathan Wickert just last week announced plans to relinquish his appointment later this summer, he actually submitted his resignation letter more than two months ago on Nov. 10.

“My last day holding the administrative appointment will be June 30, 2024, or sooner at your discretion,” Wickert, 60, wrote in November to ISU President Wendy Wintersteen. “It has been a privilege working with you as provost, and I wish you and our senior leadership colleagues much success in continuing to advance the university.”

To The Gazette’s question of why Wickert waited to go public with his resignation until now, ISU spokeswoman Angie Hunt said he and Wintersteen “agreed the beginning of the spring semester would be an appropriate time to make the announcement.”

In stepping down from the post he’s held for a record-breaking 12 years, Wickert will rejoin the faculty as a mechanical engineering professor earning $300,314 a year. His current annual salary as senior vice president and provost is $480,556.

“He has had a good, long run of 12 years as provost,” Hunt said about Wickert’s decision to step down three years before his third five-year term was set to expire in 2027. “The next provost will bring new ideas and perspectives, and Provost Wickert looks forward to resuming his role as a professor of mechanical engineering.”

Thursday, the university shared details of a search committee and search firm, and an anticipated timeline that would bring finalists to campus in April and May.

“Members of the campus community are invited to submit candidate nominations online,” according to the ISU provost search update. “All responses are the sole and exclusive property of Parker Executive Search” — the firm ISU hired to help find its next chief academic officer. ISU didn’t immediately provide its fee agreement with Parker.

Chairing the 18-member search committee is David Spalding, vice president for economic development and industry relations; dean of the Ivy College of Business; and professor of finance. Other members include professors from a range of ISU colleges; the presidents of the graduate student senate and undergraduate student government; and representatives from the offices of the president, Extension and Outreach and University Library.

Favorable review

A 2019 internal review of Wickert’s office by representatives across ISUs colleges was “favorable,” finding the Senior Vice President and Provost Office promoted ISU’s mission, supported inclusion and diversity, promoted collaboration, improved professional development opportunities, was open to new ideas and had open communication “outside budget and personnel issues.”

That review also recommended areas for improvement, like through two-way communication and transparency; culture enhancement; and funding and hiring procedures. “Streamline the processes of approval of positions and hiring of faculty and administrators following the search process to avoid loss of top-quality candidates.”

Other ISU administrative searches

The university also this spring will launch a search to replace its former Senior Vice President for Operations and Finance Shawn Norman — who resigned in December, less than a year into the job, under unclear circumstances and with a separation agreement.

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As part of a deal, ISU paid $124,000 to Norman, whose ISU employment officially ended Dec. 1. The university hasn’t offered details about the resignation but admitted no wrongdoing, according to the agreement, which also stipulated Norman’s commitment not to sue the university or any of its officers.

Heather Paris was named interim senior vice president for operations and finance, and she presented in his Norman’s place at November’s regents meeting.

Norman’s offer letter from November 2022 set his salary at $380,000.

In the months before his resignation, Norman told news outlets he had finished his online MBA at Boise State University just weeks before interviewing for the top finance and operations job at ISU.

"Once I got my MBA, I got it Oct. 7 and actually had an interview at Iowa State on Oct. 20,“ Norman told the National Association of College and University Business Officers in September. "When I did the interview at Iowa State, they kept asking me more about my relationship building and how did I go about it? When I was meeting with the president, she was like … explain more about collaboration.”

Norman said he told Wintersteen he would “go on a listening tour.”

“Push came to shove and I got the job and I'm here today at Iowa State learning a lot,” he said. “Been on the job for six months. We have great people and we have a great future in Iowa State, and I hope to help lead that in a positive way.”

The third top job ISU is trying to fill is its director of equal opportunity and Title IX coordinator, after Carl Wells left Aug. 1 — just over a year after arriving — to take an associate dean position at Newberry College in South Carolina.

ISU has formed a six-member search committee for that role and hired the Spelman Johnson search firm.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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