The Dean of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry will lead the new committee that seeks to find a president for the Iowa City school. The first search was dissolved by the Board of Regents and the four finalist it selected dismissed. The regents selected David Johnsen Monday for the task and he’s ready to go.
Johnsen says the regents will soon form the committee and make assignments and give guidance on the search in the next couple of weeks. Johnsen says he has an idea of the type of committee he’d like to see. Johnsen says the big thing they want to do is to get people who “have a great love for this great university,” and engage the greater university community to face the issues.
Johnsen says the balance between getting lots of input and moving the process along quickly, is the big challenge. The first search committee came under a lot of criticism, including concerns over the lack of information released on the process. Johnsen says there is a limit to how much information can be given out.
Johnsen says in most searches they try to keep people abreast of the process, but absolute confidentiality about the names of the candidates or potential candidates is important to not compromise the process. Johnsen was asked if he feels any pressure after one search has already failed to find a president.
Johnsen says it’s been busy enough that he hasn’t had time to think about it, but says he has heard from a lot of people who want to find a way to move ahead. Johnsen says he does have a goal for finding the right candidate.
Johnsen says if at all possible they would like to have a new person named by the first of July — something he says is an ambitious goal. Johnsen is certified pediatric dentist who has been dean of the U-of-I College of Dentistry since 1995.