Iowa State provost stepping down by Dec. 31

Iowa State University's new president will get the chance to name his own no. 2 administrator, after the school's provost announced plans to step down.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Hoffman announced to campus Monday she will leave her position by the end of the year or sooner if she finds another job or her replacement can start before then.

She said her announcement allows ISU President Steven Leath to search for her replacement while she looks for other positions. Hoffman served as Iowa State's executive vice president and provost since 2007 under now-retired President Gregory Geoffroy, who Leath replaced last month.

It is common for new university presidents to hire their own team during a leadership transition.

Hoffman says she's proud of her work helping manage the school's finances through the recession.