Iowa Regents Struggle to Find Firm for UI Intellectual Freedom Center Director Search

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The Iowa Board of Regents reports they've received only one response to their request for qualifications from consulting firms to lead the search for a permanent director of the new University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom. The timeline to award a contract by February 20th is tentative, as the 13-member screening committee responsible for selecting a firm is not meeting until this Thursday.

Why it matters

The new Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa was established to promote free speech and open discourse on campus, but its search for a permanent executive director has faced challenges, raising questions about the university's ability to find the right leadership to guide the center's mission.

The details

The initial request for qualifications was issued a month ago with a response deadline of February 6th. However, board spokesman Josh Lehman said the timeline to award a contract by February 20th is only tentative, as the 13-member committee responsible for screening the proposals and selecting a firm is not having their first meeting until Thursday. The committee includes former Iowa governor Terry Brandstad but no one from the University of Iowa, instead featuring professors from Princeton, George Mason, Emory, Stanford and Northwestern.

• The initial request for qualifications was issued a month ago.
• The response deadline for the request was February 6th.
• The 13-member screening committee is having their first meeting on Thursday.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The 13-member screening committee is scheduled to have their first meeting on Thursday to review the one proposal received and select a firm to lead the search for a permanent executive director of the University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom.