UNITop story
Regents approve a national search to replace UNI President Mark Nook
The search aims to finish by July 1, 2027
- Oct. 23Nook announces plans to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year.
- Nov. 12Regents unanimously approve a national search for his successor.
- April 2027The goal is to bring finalists to the regents at their UNI meeting.
- July 2027The goal is a new president on campus as Nook's contract period ends.
Sources: Messenger News, KWWL
If you follow UNI, the search for its next president is on. The Iowa Board of Regents unanimously approved a national search Thursday to replace President Mark Nook, who announced Oct. 23 that he'll retire at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. He's agreed to stay until his successor is hired and working.
Board Counsel Aimee Claeys said staff will seek applicants for search-firm partners and begin building a search committee. The firm will help define goals and a timeline, then recruit, screen and run background checks on candidates before interviews.
“We fully anticipate that this search will follow the cadence and process that we have used quite successfully in recent searches.”
Aimee Claeys, board counsel, on the search that chose David Cook as Iowa State's president in 2025
- Search team: Claeys, Rachel Boon and Josh Lehman, with board staff
- Timeline: set with the search committee chairs
- Search committee: board staff start building it after the firm is chosen
Nook has led UNI since 2017 and plans to retire in 2027
- 11th
- president of UNI is Nook
- Feb. 1, 2017
- the day Nook began as president
- July 1, 2027
- the end of his contract period, the goal for a new president
Sources: Messenger News, KWWL
