The pursuit for the new ISU Foundation President has ended with the selection of Roger Neuhaus.

After weeks of contemplation, the Foundation Board unanimously decided to entrust the responsibility to Neuhaus.

ISU Foundation Board Chairwoman Marla Franklin is very confident in the Board’s declaration.

“He possesses about everything that we were looking for,” Franklin said. “He has a very strong fundraising background and, obviously, that is something that is very important. He demonstrated his leadership skills throughout the recruiting process.”

Neuhaus’s fundraising skills can be observed in his accomplishments at his latest position, senior vice president for development and university campaigns at the University of Arizona Foundation.

Since his time there from May 2008, the Foundation reported private gifts of more than $600 million, including a record year of $181 million last year alone, according to the ISU Foundation Website.

Neuhaus is no stranger to Iowa. Both he and his wife Theresa grew up in Dubuque. Neuhaus continued his education at the Loras College in Dubuque receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communication and also possesses a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Preceding his position at University of Arizona, Neuhaus fundraised for approximately 20 years in the Iowa Health System, Loras College, and Southern Illinois University, where he also served as assistant director of the alumni association for six years.

“He has a lot of energy and very strong work ethic,” Franklin said. “He’s the whole package. I think he’ll be a great president.”

ISU President Steven Leath is anticipating Neuhaus’s arrival to Iowa State as well.

“[Neuhaus’s] many years of fundraising experience will make him a valuable asset to the ISU Foundation,” Leath said in a comment to the ISU Foundation. “I look forward to working with him and the rest of the foundation staff as they continue to support Iowa State’s priorities.”

Neuhaus is eager to get started at Iowa State.

“I was elated [at the decision],” Neuhaus said. “I’m looking forward to working with the board of directors and President Leath. I was very impressed with the level of commitment with the board.”

Neuhaus will be in charge of all of the operations of the Foundation. He officially begins on Jan. 23, 2013, there is no set plan of action for the Foundation just yet.

“What I’ll be doing the first couple of months is an assessment of the Foundation,” Neuhaus said. “Then we’ll form a plan and later form an objective.”

Former ISU College of Business Dean, Labh Hira, served as interim Foundation President while the search was underway. In a remark to the Foundation, Leath said they were grateful to Hira.

“We are indebted to Labh, both for his outstanding work and service to the university as a faculty member and dean of the college of business, but also for the past several months as the interim president of the foundation,” Leath said.

In his feelings on leaving Arizona, Neuhaus said, “I will miss Arizona, particularly in January and February, but I will not miss it during June, July and August.”