University of Iowa sees 11 early presidential applicants

IOWA CITY - To date, 11 people have formally applied to be the next University of Iowa president, and 16 people have said they plan to do so, according to a firm helping conduct a nationwide search.

Another 45 people are considering the opportunity, many of whom likely will not submit applications until the last minute due to confidentiality concerns, said Laurie Wilder, president of Parker Executive Search, hired by the Board of Regents to facilitate the hunt for the UI's 21st president.

'It's not that they do not trust you,” Wilder told the 21-member presidential search and screen committee Thursday during a telephonic meeting. 'They just do not know you.”

The committee is in the process of taking nominations and amassing names of potential candidates for the post, which current President Sally Mason will vacate Aug. 1. So far, the search firm has put together a list of more than 500 prospects - including 115 people who have been recommended or nominated, Wilder said.

None of those names are being made public unless they become finalists and are invited to campus.

But, Wilder said, even that level of potential disclosure has raised concerns for some prospects: 'The majority of those who have concerns are typically those who are presidents or chancellors at other universities.”

The Board of Regents and search committee have committed to making finalists' names public and inviting them to campus to meet community members and potential constituents. But regents President Bruce Rastetter on Thursday said he doesn't want that to keep away top prospects.

'We want to get the best possible president we can attract,” Rastetter said.

Members of the UI search committee told Wilder they want to hear about any potential candidates hesitant to apply because of the public aspect.

Wilder committed to do that. So far, she added, she doesn't think the UI has lost any prime candidates due to the potential publicity.

Prospects have asked questions, according to Wilder. Specifically, some have asked about the regents-proposed 'performance-based funding model” that could have pulled millions from UI had lawmakers adopted it. Some also asked about the institution's relationship with the Board of Regents and the state of Iowa and wanted to know what kind of culture and environment they'd be stepping into, Wilder said.

On Thursday, Parker made available to the search committee a secure website listing all the candidates, along with status updates.

Going forward, the firm is planning to talk with search committee chair Jean Robillard, vice president of UI Health Care, every 10 days.

The tentative schedule calls for the next public and full committee meeting on July 30; a closed session Aug. 4 to discuss candidates; 'airport interviews” Aug. 11 and 12; campus visits with three to four finalists in late August and early September; and finalists' interviews Sept. 4 with the Board of Regents.