Why It Matters
The Iowa Board of Regents has approved the first steps toward selecting the University of Northern Iowa’s next president. Mark Nook plans to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year.
What Happened
The board unanimously authorized a national search for Nook’s successor during its Nov. 12 meeting. Nook plans to remain in office until a successor has been selected and arrives on campus.
Board staff will seek applicants Friday for potential search-firm partners and begin forming a search committee. Aimee Claeys, Rachel Boon, and Josh Lehman will lead the effort with board staff.
The search team will work with the committee chairs to establish a timeline. Finalist selections are expected to come before the board during its April meeting on the UNI campus.
Claeys, board counsel, said the process is expected to follow the approach used in recent searches. Board President Robert Cramer thanked Nook for his work and said the board would have another opportunity to recognize his service at a future meeting.
By the Numbers
Nov. 12 — date of the board meeting
Friday — date staff will seek search-firm applicants
April — month finalist selections are expected before the board
July 1, 2027 — target date for the new president to be on campus
A decade — length of Nook’s presidency when he retires
Unanimously — board vote approving the national search
Zoom Out
The UNI search follows the selection of David Cook as Iowa State University’s new president in 2025. The two searches are separate university leadership processes overseen by the Iowa Board of Regents.
What’s Next
Staff will begin work on the search-firm process and search committee. The board expects to consider finalist selections in April, with the goal of having Nook’s successor on campus by July 1, 2027.