Montse Fuentes, the University of Iowa executive vice president and provost, has elected to pursue a new opportunity at the university. Fuentes will serve as special assistant to the president, where she will lead the team updating the university’s strategic plan and dedicate a portion of her time to her research.

“The chance to serve our students and scholars in this new way is an exciting new direction,” says Fuentes. “Being able to make an impact on our campus community by using my research and administrative skills is the best of both worlds.”

Fuentes was named provost in the spring of 2019 and began serving in the role in June 2019. Her reassignment is effective July 16, 2020, through June 30, 2021, after which she may elect to assume a regular faculty position. Per her agreement with the university, she will retain her current salary of $439,000.

“I would like to thank Montse for her service and contributions in her role as provost,” says UI President Bruce Harreld. “Montse’s work with the colleges to identify trends will provide a roadmap for the future success of our students and faculty, and I’m looking forward to her continued help in this planning.”

Harreld has named Kevin Kregel, executive vice provost and senior associate provost for faculty, as interim provost.

“Kevin has served in multiple leadership positions across our campus for the past two decades, which will prove very valuable for Iowa going forward,” says Harreld. “I’m confident he will provide a steady guiding hand during what is arguably one of the most turbulent times in the history of our university.”

Kregel received a bachelor’s degree and doctorate (physiology and biophysics) from the UI and joined the faculty at Iowa in 1993 after completing a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona. He served as department executive officer in the Department of Health and Human Physiology before he was appointed associate provost in 2014 and executive vice provost and senior associate provost for faculty in 2019.

“As an alumnus of Iowa, I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve the institution, our students, faculty, staff, and state in this role,” says Kregel. “Our university is facing a set of challenges that will test each of us, but I know that we, as a community, are ready to stand together in the face of this adversity.”

Kregel’s interim appointment will be for at least two years to provide stability. He will receive an annual salary of $439,000. Kregel’s appointment must be approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.