Public input on University of Iowa presidential finalists to go to regents Thursday

IOWA CITY -- A University of Iowa presidential search committee met behind closed doors Wednesday to consider campus and community feedback on its four finalists, with plans to present that input and its collective thoughts to the Board of Regents on Thursday.

Summaries of the campus feedback will be shared “widely” Friday with campus “and with the candidates at the conclusion of their interviews,” committee co-chair and Graduate College Dean John Keller said Wednesday during the brief open portion of the group’s meeting.

The Board of Regents is expected to name a 22nd UI president around 4 p.m. Friday — after conducting interviews with the finalists to succeed UI President Bruce Harreld.

The board office has not made clear when, specifically, it will release results of the public feedback. It has not committed to do so before regents pick a new president.

The four finalists are:

• Hari Osofsky, dean of Penn State Law and the Penn State School of International Affairs.

• Barbara Wilson, executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs for the University of Illinois System.

• Wendy Hensel, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Georgia State University.

• Daniel Clay, dean of the UI College of Education.

The 21-member UI search committee includes representatives from every college on campus except the College of Education. Board of Regents spokesman Josh Lehman told The Gazette administrators extended offers to serve to several of the college’s faculty members.

“All declined,” he said.

When asked for names of those offered the opportunity to service, Lehman said, “We are going to respect their privacy.”

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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