President

The Iowa Board of Regents and the Iowa State University (ISU) Presidential Search Committee invite nominations and applications for the position of President of ISU. The Board has charged the search committee with the responsibility to identify candidates who are experienced leaders in higher education, of unquestionable integrity, and carry a vision for innovation and success within an informed university community.  

Established in 1858, Iowa State University became a land-grant in 1862 when Iowa emerged as the first state to accept the terms of the Morrill Act. ISU is a Carnegie Classification Doctoral Research University: Highest Research Activity. The 30,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students pursue studies in over 100 majors in eight colleges– Agriculture and Life Sciences, Business, Design, Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate College. Students are guided by a stellar faculty, staff, and administrative team numbering 6,500. The student body represents every Iowa county, every state, and 116 countries. Student athletes, the Cyclones, compete in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Cyclones participate in 11 women’s and seven men’s intercollegiate teams. 

The ISU campus in Ames comprises 1,900 acres. This significant presence is expanded through the university’s extension and outreach service with offices in each of the state’s 99 counties and enhanced with the presence of the Ames National Laboratory, established on the campus in 1947. Iowa State’s budget of nearly $1.7 billion for fiscal year 2026 includes state and federal funds, tuition and fees, contracts, grants, and auxiliary enterprises. ISU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and several degree-related accrediting bodies.

EXPECTATIONS

The new president must be a servant leader who is forward thinking and has the ability to navigate change. The successful candidate must have experience developing and executing a future-oriented strategic plan. This individual will be an exceptional communicator and nimble thought leader, who is able to embrace the culture of ISU. The new president must be able to make courageous decisions while leading in a shifting higher education environment. The candidate must be an advocate of the land-grant mission, upholding the hallmarks of teaching, research, service, and extension. 

Additional expectations of the new president are below:

• A student-first focus on preparation, support, and success needs for all students in academics, research, and health and welfare;
• Ability to unify and build a campus-wide team with an approachable, servant-leader style that inspires trust, credibility, and confidence with stakeholders;
• Demonstrated success in fundraising engagement and knowledge of best practices;
• Skills in fiscal management oversight, revenue diversification, creative allocation, resource generation, and grants;
• Respect for faculty and staff contributions, free inquiry of knowledge, professional development, and shared governance; and
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of intercollegiate athletics, its current environment, and its substantial impact on the university.

ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES

The new president will have a strong track record of integrity and ethical leadership, and be committed to the culture and history of the university. It is necessary that the president be an enthusiastic, energetic, and engaging voice on behalf of the university, both internally and externally. Other attributes and qualities the new president should possess are below: 

• High emotional intelligence with strong spoken, written, listening, and interpersonal skills with an open-door, open-mind style;
• Capacity to attract, supervise, and retain a talented leadership team and administrative staff;
• Ethical optimization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate learning, research, operations, and a framework to address trends for online learning growth;
• Effective interaction with diverse constituencies, including PK-12, alumni, professional organizations, business and industry, foundations, the city of Ames, and the state of Iowa;
• Partner within a statewide team, working with the Board of Regents and Iowa's public university presidents; and
• Exercise diplomacy and be able to navigate the political landscape effectively while maintaining a commitment to the university's mission.

A complete leadership profile is located above.

Nominations and Applications

Significant senior-level executive experience, preferably in higher education, and an earned doctorate (or terminal degree) are strongly preferred. To assure best consideration, applications should be received by September 19, 2025, and must include:

• A letter of interest addressing the expectations and characteristics described above;
• A current résumé or curriculum vitae; and
• A list of five professional references with each person’s position, email address, and telephone number(s). References will not be contacted without prior authorization from the candidate.

Application materials should be submitted in PDF format through AGB’s Iowa State University President Application Portal. 

Applications will remain confidential through the semifinalist stage, to the fullest extent permitted by law. The new President will assume office by or before January 1, 2026.

Additional information about this search (including the Position Profile) may be found on the Iowa State University website.

Please direct any nominations, expressions of interest, or questions regarding the application process to the AGB Search consultants assisting the university with this search:

Roderick J. McDavis
Managing Principal & CEO
rod.mcdavis@agbsearch.com
(804) 514-1982

James H. McCormick
Senior Executive Search Consultant
jim.mccormick@agbsearch.com
(651) 238-5188

Janice S. Fitzgerald
Senior Executive Search Consultant
janice.fitzgerald@agbsearch.com
(717) 580-0663

EEO Statement

The Iowa Board of Regents does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, status as a U.S. Veteran, or any other classification protected by law.