Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel has named Galen Schneider interim dean of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry effective June 12.

Schneider currently serves as executive associate dean and associate dean for faculty in the college. He was named to the faculty at Iowa in 1999 and is a professor in the Department of Prosthodontics. He will serve as interim dean until a new dean is in place.

“I look forward to working with Dr. Schneider during this transition period,” says Kregel. “He has a long and distinguished record of collegiate leadership and service, and the college will be in excellent hands while we search for the next permanent dean.”

Schneider’s appointment must be approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

David Johnsen, dean of the College of Dentistry, announced in February that he will step down as dean on June 11.

Kregel has named Julie Zerwic, dean of the College of Nursing, and Dan Caplan, department head of preventive and community dentistry, as co-chairs of the search committee for a new dean. The search firm Greenwood/Asher will partner with the committee on the search.

“I want to thank David again for his exceptional service to the college, the university, and the state of Iowa,” says Kregel. “I also thank the chairs of the search committee for agreeing to serve in this very important role.”

The members of the search committee will be announced in April.