ISU presidential search committee uses consensus to pick 8 semifinalists

AMES — The search committee tasked with identifying finalists to lead Iowa State University as its next president met in closed session Monday and after several hours of discussion narrowed down a pool of 78 applicants to eight semifinalists.

Those eight candidates will meet one at a time with the 12-member search committee virtually in closed session Oct. 20-22, after which the committee will choose finalists to visit the Ames campus the first week of November.

In narrowing down the pool of applicants, Board of Regents spokesman Josh Lehman told The Gazette the committee agreed by “consensus” on the eight semifinalists, which were identified by the candidate numbers: 23, 25, 32, 38, 43, 48, 49, and 72.

When outgoing ISU President Wendy Wintersteen in May announced her plans to retire at the end of this year, Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, wrote to the board to remind it of a new law passed last year reforming the regents’ presidential selection process.

“These changes to Iowa Code Section Section 262.9, subsection 2, clarify that when electing a president of a regent university, the board may use a presidential selection committee, but only members of the Board of Regents shall serve as voting members,” Collins wrote. “This is a significant departure from past presidential selection processes where the Board of Regents abdicated their responsibility in electing a university president, allowing candidates to be narrowed down by some of the most extreme factions of the campus community.”

Collins said the old process was “not only a mistake, but following such an approach in the selection of Iowa State's next president would now be illegal. I trust the board recognizes the legislative intent and importance of this change.”

The 12-member committee leading the search for Iowa State’s 17th president includes four regents, including Republicans JC Risewick, Robert Cramer, and Greta Rouse, along with Kurt Tjaden, who identifies as an independent.

Risewick is co-chairing the committee with ISU professor and Faculty Senate President Meghan Gillette.

Also serving on the committee are Iowa State’s student government, Graduate and Professional Student Senate, and Professional and Scientific Council presidents; two professors; and two alumni with experience in private industry — including Wells Fargo Home Mortgage retired copresident Cara Heiden and Pivot Bio board member Roger Underwood. Eight of the 12 committee members are male.

The committee did not take any vote following the closed door discussion Monday.

“After discussion in closed session, we have selected eight candidates to be invited to participate in virtual semifinalist interviews, beginning on October 20,” Risewick said once the committee came back into open session. “Now that we have made our selection of semifinalists, we will move forward with virtual semifinalist interviews.”

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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