So far, there are 44 candidates who have officially applied to replace Sally Mason as the next president of the University of Iowa. Another six have expressed interest but have yet to officially apply, says a firm handling the UI’s search for a new president.

The deadline for application closes July 31, but Laurie Wilder, president of Parker Executive Search, says, “The search isn’t over until the position is filled. You don’t want to lose a great candidate because of timing.”

Wilder made the announcement July 30 during a telephonic meeting of the 21-member Presidential Search and Screen Committee chaired by Jean Robillard, UI vice president for medical affairs and soon-to-be interim president of the UI.

Robillard, who will assume the interim president role Aug. 1, says he’s confident a new president will be named by early September and hopeful the new president will be placed in office by the end of the calendar year. He added the pool of candidates is impressive.

“I am honestly quite pleased with what I’ve seen so far,” he says. “If we can attract one of these candidates, we will do very, very well.”

Search committee members will have access to a secure online evaluation tool through Parker Search on which they will privately rank the candidates and take notes. Wilder emphasizes that the evaluation tool is not “a binding vote” but will be used to facilitate discussion later during a candidate selection meeting Aug. 4.

The next steps:

• Aug. 4: The committee will meet at 3 p.m. in the Executive Board Room of the Old Capitol Museum; they will discuss interview questions and will hold a closed session to discuss the applicants. Wilder says the final number of candidates to reach the next step is up to the committee, but Parker Search recommends between eight and 10 for the first round of interviews.
• Aug. 11-12: The committee will host “airport interviews” in Chicago.
• Aug. 31-Sept. 3: Finalists will visit campus.
• Sept. 4: The candidates will meet with the Board of Regents.