Looks can be deceiving. This photo of Old Capitol might suggest that it was taken on a warm, breezy afternoon. It was not. Photographer Justin Torner was crossing the Pentacrest on his way back to the office on a frigid January day when he looked up and noticed how perfect the clouds were. He says he never really plans to shoot the iconic campus building—it just happens. With scaffolding surrounding the building this past fall, photographers have been forced to find alternative, yet distinctive, campus shots.

Old Capitol

Semifinalist interviews for UI presidential candidates begin today

Search committee encouraged by ‘outstanding’ candidate pool

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Written by: Office of Strategic Communication

The University of Iowa presidential search committee will begin interviews with semifinalist candidates today and, on Saturday, will choose a final group of up to four people who will visit campus later this month.

The search committee, which is with helping the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, select a new president, will interview 12 candidates today and Friday.

“We are excited to speak with the semifinalists and learn more about their vision for leading the University of Iowa into the next decade and beyond,” says John Keller, co-chair of the search committee. “We look forward to hearing each candidate articulate their plan for making Iowa a destination university for the brightest students, faculty, and staff.”

The committee considered 79 applications at its March 26 meeting, and from that pool, selected 12 candidates who will be interviewed today and Friday, April 1—2. The names of the semifinalists are not public as only the finalists are publicly named in the process.

“The entire search committee is encouraged by this outstanding pool of semifinal candidates,” says Sandra Daack-Hirsch, committee co-chair. “Our goal this week is to select finalists who we think best exemplify the leadership profile that was created in collaboration with campus, and who we are confident can lead all aspects of the University of Iowa.”

After semifinalist interviews with the 12 candidates, the search committee will select up to four finalists to bring to campus. The number of final candidates will be announced on Saturday, April 3.

Hybrid, on-campus interviews for the finalists, including hybrid open forums with the campus community, are scheduled to take place April 12—23. The schedules and logistics for finalist interviews will be established and announced in the near future. Names of each finalist will be announced publicly 24 hours prior to the beginning of their interview.

The tentative dates are:

Finalist 1: April 12—13 (this date will be eliminated if only three finalists are selected)
Finalist 2: April 15—16
Finalist 3: April 19—20
Finalist 4: April 22—23

The search committee will meet with the Board of Regents on April 29 or April 30. The Board of Regents will interview each finalist and make its selection of the next president on April 30.

For more information, see the UI presidential search website.