Hunter
12/04/25
Former construction executive Robert Cramer was unanimously elected the new Iowa Board of Regents president on Wednesday. He replaces former President Sherry Bates who announced her resignation this week.
Kurt Tjaden is the new president pro-tem after current office holder Greta Rouse announced she is stepping down from her leadership role, although she will remain a regent.
Cramer, currently a land developer, thanked Bates for her years of service, and said, “I’m a bridge-builder and this might be a good time for a bridge-builder to bring all of our interested parties who want to make our universities better, together.”
Cramer also serves on the advisory council of the University of Iowa’s new Center for Intellectual Freedom alongside fellow Regents Chris Hensley and Tjaden. He serves on the Industry Advisory Council for the Construction Engineering Department at Iowa State University and on the statewide STEM advisory board. He previously served as board chairman of the The Family Leader, a conservative Christian group.
Cramer, a Republican, wrote an e-mail to party lawmakers in July when the Board was receiving pushback from faculty, staff and students for proposing a ban on Diversity Equity and Inclusion and other content in courses. He told them, “I’m not afraid of whacko wokeness if my conservative views are presented as well. I’m confident our values can prevail if presented fairly. So we’re trying to craft a policy on how things are presented instead of banning certain topics.”
On August 12th, the Regents voted nearly-unanimously to implement a revised policy focusing on how instructors teach that content, requiring that topics be taught with balance.
Bates’ departure now leaves the Board of Regents short two members. The other vacancy was caused by the resignation of Regent David Barker, who was appointed U.S. assistant secretary for Postsecondary Education by President Donald Trump in October. Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to announce a nominee for Barkers’ seat soon.