Hunter
12/02/25
Sherry Bates, president of the Iowa Board of Regents, announced Monday that she will retire effective Thursday.
Bates had three years left on her six-year term; President Pro-Tem Greta Rouse also announced she is stepping down from her leadership position but will remain a regent through the end of her term in 2027.
In a statement, Bates said, “It’s time for me to step back, spend more time with my family, and allow the next generation of regent leadership to continue our good work. Iowa, Iowa State and UNI are among the best public universities in the country, and I look forward to seeing them continue to grow and excel.”
Rouse said she’s still committed to the board and its mission, but says that leadership requires an additional time commitment. She said she wants to focus on her young family.
The board has called an emergency meeting for Wednesday to elect a new President and President Pro-Tem. The departures leave the Board with four Republicans, one Democrat and two independents. Three Regents are men, and four are women.
The state is required to staff the Board of Regents with political and gender balance.
The Gazette reports the board over the last few years has come under growing lawmaker scrutiny for its campus’ diversity, equity and inclusion programming, staffing, and spending — and for reports of constraints on free speech at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa.
Legislators in response have openly reprimanded the board and university presidents and last session withheld any general education funding increase for the campuses.