Electing Board Leadership

The Board of Regents will meet Monday, May 1 to elect a new president and president pro tem to complete the unexpired terms of President Bruce Rastetter and President Pro Tem Katie Mulholland. The new board leaders will serve from May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018.

Regents will nominate and then vote to elect the 22nd president of the Board of Regents and the 8th president pro tem in a 10 a.m. telephonic meeting.

Iowa Administrative Code 681-11.1 states “a president shall be elected by the board of regents from its members for a two-year term to commence on May 1 in even-numbered years.  A president pro tem shall be elected at the same meeting at which the board president is elected. If a vacancy occurs in the office of board president, the president pro tem shall serve as president until such time as a new president is elected by the board.  If a vacancy occurs in the office of president pro tem, a successor shall be elected by the board of regents from its members as soon as practicable.”

The Board presidency dates back to the creation of the State Board of Education (later the Board of Regents, State of Iowa) in 1909. J.H. Trewin served as the Board’s first president from its inception until 1915. The president pro tem position was created April 10, 2003 after questions arose regarding Board of Regents continuity during homeland security planning discussions.