After 27 years at Iowa State, ISU Provost Benjamin Allen will become president of the University of Northern Iowa.

Allen began serving as provost in June 2002. Allen also served as dean of the College of Business.

A statement provided by President Gregory Geoffroy praised Allen for leading strategic planning, university reaccreditation processes and the merger of two colleges to form the new College of Human Sciences.

“He is a strong and decisive leader with great interpersonal skills who is highly respected throughout the university and well beyond our campus,” said ISU President Gregory Geoffroy.

The provost is responsible for the university’s academic mission and for the formulation of academic policies and goals.

“The provost’s most important job is to find quality faculty for the university and provide an environment where faculty can prosper and be nurtured, said Tahira Hira, assistant to the president.

“A good provost is essential to retaining and growing an excellent faculty, and this greatly benefits students.”

Hira said whoever fills the position will need to have demonstrated excellent research, budgetary and academic effectiveness, as well as have professional experience in their field of expertise.

Geoffroy has appointed Susan Carlson, associate provost for faculty advancement and diversity, as interim vice president for academic affairs and provost, effective June 1. Allen previously held both positions at Iowa State.

Carlson has been at Iowa State since 1980 after completing her master’s and Ph.D. in English at the University of Oregon.

“This is going to be a nationwide search and we are only just beginning the process,” Hira said. “People will be applying within and without the university.”

Hira said once the nominations are generated and people are interviewed the process should move quickly.

“We have an outstanding committee organized and we have clear objectives,” she said.

“I think the committee will quickly recognize what they are looking for.”

Both Allen and Carlson were busy finishing up duties in their respective positions and were unavailable for comment.