Though she says she is only in her “junior year” of her term as president of the University of Iowa, Barbara Wilson will be the first to tell you about her lifelong fascination with academia.
“When I was young, I don’t know if I thought I would be a teacher or not, but I spent a lot of time standing at a blackboard teaching my two younger sisters different things I was learning in school,” Ms. Wilson said, remembering her childhood growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin. “So I think being a teacher somehow was rooted in everything that I did after I left home.”
With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ms. Wilson initially thought she wanted to be “the next Barbara Walters.” But in her senior year she found herself fascinated by a survey research class, where a faculty member suggested she look into graduate school.
Her pursuit for knowledge led her to earning both a master’s and doctorate degree in communication arts, graduating in 1985.
Following graduation, Ms. Wilson began her career as a faculty member at the University of Louisville, then went on to work as a professor of communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara for 12 years. During that time, she also served as director of graduate studies in the Department of Communication.
She returned to the Midwest in 2000 to work as a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There she rose through the ranks for nearly 16 years and eventually became executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs for the University of Illinois System, which includes universities in Chicago and Springfield, as well as Urbana-Champaign.
She began her term as the 22nd president of the University of Iowa in July of 2021.
“I think being asked to be president of the University of Iowa is my proudest career moment,” Ms. Wilson said. “It’s the pinnacle of one’s career to be the president of one of these great research universities that do so much for the state and for students and for the economic development of this region. It’s pretty fabulous. Every time I get to meet with students, I’m reminded what an honor it is to be in this role.”
22 seems to be the University of Iowa’s lucky number. Ms. Wilson has already accomplished much in just a short time.
In her first year, she played a lead role in the creation of the university’s five-year strategic plan with input from more than 700 participants. In the same academic year, the university saw a record fundraising year, raising over $400 million, and exceeded enrollment goals.
The following academic year, Ms. Wilson and the university prepared to launch the most ambitious campaign in Iowa’s history – with a goal of raising $3 billion, reaching 300,000 alumni and friends with over 3 million points of contact.
As of December, donors have committed $1.62 billion to support students, faculty and facilities, equaling 54% progress toward this goal.
These are just a few examples of Ms. Wilson’s impact on the 175-year old institution.
“Her commitment to students is unparalleled. Through her visionary work on behalf of Hawkeyes, I often hear her speak about Iowa’s commitment to doing what is right – to not only accept and prepare students for their degrees, but also ensure their Iowa experiences are inclusive, purposeful, and personal,” Lynette Marshall, president and CEO of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, wrote in her recommendation letter of Ms. Wilson for the CBJ’s Women of Influence award. “She focuses on the holistic well-being of students, which includes care for their academic, financial, physical, and mental health.”
Ms. Wilson said her favorite part of the job is interacting with UI students. She strives to be “purposeful” about cultivating a good rapport with the student body, inviting groups to the president’s residence for routinely-scheduled meals.
“When I’ve had a rough day or a rough week, if I can sit down with a group of students it’s a pick me up. It’s better than a vanilla latte,” Ms. Wilson said. “Every time I experience those moments, I’m reminded of why we’re working as hard as we are and why I do what I do, because the university is transforming so many people’s lives.”
This profile was originally published in the CBJ’s 2024 Women of Influence publication. The 2024 Women of Influence are an inspiring group of community leaders who have each overcome adversity, taken chances and challenged themselves to make a positive impact in their community, despite demanding schedules in their personal and professional lives.
The CBJ will host the 2024 Women of Influence 20 Year Gala from 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center in Cedar Rapids. Tickets are still available to this event, which includes networking, dinner and remarks from the winners.
