Coleman to follow Rawlings again

Just like she did at the University of Iowa in 1995, Mary Sue Coleman is following Hunter Rawlings again - but this time as head of the Association of American Universities.

The Washington D.C.-based association on Tuesday announced that Coleman, former president of the universities of Iowa and Michigan, will succeed Rawlings as its president, effective June 1, 2016.

Rawlings, who served as the 17th UI president from 1987 to 1995 before taking the helm at Cornell University from 1995 to 2003 and then heading the AAU in 2011, informed the group's board in May that he would retire next year.

Coleman, who served as the UI's 18th president from 1995 to 2002, retired from her 12-year stint leading the University of Michigan in 2014. She co-chairs the Lincoln Project, an initiative of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences to support research universities. She also serves on the board of trustees of the Society for Science & the Public, and she served as chair of the AAU in 2011-2012.

In a statement, Coleman referenced Rawlings' achievements as AAU president, praising him for doing 'an exceptional job as AAU president in advancing our collective impact as research institutions.”

'I am eager to continue the work of elevating the American research university as essential to our nation's prosperity, security, and well-being,” Coleman said in the statement.

The AAU is a group of 60 U.S. and two Canadian public and private universities that focuses on issues like research funding, policy and graduate and undergraduate education.

Rawlings in a statement said he's 'thrilled” to be leaving the organizations in Coleman's 'capable hands.”

AAU board chairwoman Amy Gutmann said Coleman is the 'ideal person” for the job.

'During her tenure at both Iowa and the University of Michigan, Mary Sue was universally regarded as one of the very best presidents in the country,” Gutmann said. 'I cannot imagine anyone better suited than Mary Sue to advance the research agenda that is at the center of AAU's mission and that is also absolutely critical to the future of our nation.”