Timeline of President Geoffroy’s tenure highlights

Michael Craighton

• 1974 to 1988: Professor and chairman of chemistry, Pennsylvania State University

• 1989 to 1997: Named Dean of Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University

• 1997 to 2001: Senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at University of Maryland at College Park

• 2001: Named president of Iowa State

• 2005: Set forth five-year plan to advance land grant ideals and put science and technology to work

• 2007: Bioeconomy Institute established

• 2003 to 2010: Campaign Iowa State, fundraising campaign led by Geoffroy, exceeds $800 million goal

• 2010: Student enrollment reaches record of 28,682 students, as well as being most diverse student body

• 2010: University received record-breaking $388 million in grants, contracts, gifts and cooperatives

• 2010: Geoffroy’s five-year vision of increasing endowed faculty from 75 to 150 realized


University’s stance today compared to when Geoffroy accepted the position:

“I’d say there are some things that have been very positive transformations; other things have been challenging. The state support is challenging. The money that we receive from the state of Iowa is now less than it was when I came. That makes things difficult.

But the enrollments are significantly improved; sponsored funding, private fundraising are all much stronger. We have a great leadership team in place right now. It’s a great leadership team that I’m very proud of. That positions the university well going forward. The campus renewal with the new buildings and renovations has changed many parts of the university for the better. There’s a much stronger sense of working together. Teamwork makes a big difference in any institution.”

Where Geoffroy believes the university should go once he is no longer in office:

“First, we need to keep enrollment strong. That’s very, very important. 

Second, keep a strong focus on sponsored research, sponsored funding, particularly in areas that are really important for Iowa and things that build on the university’s strengths. 

Third, we have a large extension mission. We need to make sure that continues to serve Iowa very well.”