Sherry Bates elected new Board of Regents president

Sherry Bates was unanimously elected as president of the Iowa Board of Regents on Wednesday, replacing former board president Michael Richards.

Ms. Bates was nominated to the position by Mr. Richards, who worked closely with her on the board over the past several years. “I believe she’ll be an excellent person to be president of the Board of Regents,” he said. Ms. Bates holds the distinction of being the second woman in the Board of Regents’ history to serve as president, the last being Mary Louise Petersen, who served almost 40 years ago from 1973-1981. Mr. Richards stepped down from his role in January, but will remain a board member until April 30. Gov. Branstad appointed Mr. Richards to the board in 2016, and was reappointed in 2021 by Gov. Reynolds. In 2017 he was elected as the board’s 22nd president and was re-elected in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Ms. Bates’ new role is effective immediately and her term will expire April 30, 2024, at which point she will be up for re-nomination for a two-year term. “I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months,” she said, after thanking the board for their support. Regent Greta Rouse was unanimously elected as president pro tempore, being nominated by regent JC Risewick. “She’s well-suited for the role, and does this for all the right reasons,” he said. President Bates was appointed to the Board of Regents on Dec. 22, 2014, by Gov. Branstad to fill the unexpired term of Nicole Carroll. She was reappointed by the governor on March 1, 2017, and reappointed again by Gov. Reynolds on March 3, 2023. She was elected President Pro Tem of the Board on June 1, 2021, and re-elected in 2022. Her term on the board expires in 2029.