Governor Tom Vilsack’s education policy advisor has been named the new executive director of the organization that oversees the three state-funded universities. Gregory Nichols will take over as the new Executive Director of the State Board of Regents sometime in January.Nichols has been the governor’s education advisor and policy director since 1999, and says a lot of policy and advice will go into this job.He says he’s excited about working with officials at Iowa State, Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.Nichols says education is the key to Iowa’s current and future prosperity.The Board of Regents also oversees the state’s schools for the blind and deaf. Nichols will replace Frank Stork who resigned last July to take a private sector position.