Laura McLeran and Kenneth G. Brown will co-chair search committee to replace Tom Rocklin
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Written by: Cristóbal McKinney

UI President Bruce Harreld has named Kenneth G. Brown, professor and associate dean of undergraduate programs at the Tippie College of Business, and Laura McLeran, senior adviser to the president and associate vice president for external relations, to co-chair the search committee to replace Tom Rocklin, vice president for student life.

“Laura and Ken bring a strong understanding of leadership and our many student services,” says Harreld. “I feel confident they will find a candidate to build on Tom’s impressive legacy and continue supporting student success.”

Brown has served as associate dean since 2014 and began teaching at the UI in 1998. He is the Ralph L. Sheets Professor of Management in the Tippie College of Business and, by courtesy appointment, professor of educational policy and leadership studies in the College of Education. After earning a BS in psychology from the University of Maryland, Brown earned an MA and PhD in psychology from Michigan State University.

McLeran earned both her BA and MBA from the UI and has served the university in various capacities for 29 years. After working in student services for 18 years, she began serving in the Office of the President in 2003 and assumed her current position in 2013. In addition to her other duties, McLeran also serves as the UI representative to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, efficiency review.

McLeran and Brown are expected to name additional members to the search committee soon.

“We look forward to having broad student representation as well as key staff and faculty members on the search committee,” says Brown. “We want to ensure all critical stakeholders inform the candidate selection and that all candidates address the evolving needs of our diverse student body.”

Rocklin announced in December that he plans to retire in July of 2017 after having served in various capacities at the UI for 30 years. As vice president for student life, Rocklin created and led student-success initiatives and programs to support and complement curriculum, including the student welcoming program OnIowa! and the alcohol harm reduction plan responsible for decreased high-risk alcohol use among undergraduates.