ISU President Gregory Geoffroy has been named to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s newly created National Security Higher Education Advisory Board.

The board, which consists of 15 other presidents and chancellors from around the country, including former ISU president Martin Jischke, will meet with the FBI three times a year to discuss ways to strengthen ties between higher education and intelligence agencies. In addition to the three meetings in Washington, D.C., members will also be expected to attend regional meetings.

Although Geoffroy has been working with the board since the middle of last summer, the first official meeting will not be until October.

William Carter, FBI spokesman at the FBI National Press Office, said the Board will provide advice on the culture of higher education and seek to establish lines of communication on national priorities including terrorism, counterintelligence and homeland security.

“We will assist in the development of research, degree programs, course work, internships, opportunities for graduates and consulting opportunities for faculty, relating to national security,” Carter said. “[The board] is designed to foster outreach and to promote understanding between higher education and the FBI.

Carter said the idea for the board came from the “need to have trained and qualified people in the intelligence agencies.” He said they also want to keep a closer eye on federally-funded research at Iowa State.

Carter said members were selected from universities with a high number of research programs and the “willingness and ability to serve.”

John Anderson, assistant to President Geoffroy, said Geoffroy was chosen because of the president’s strong reputation.

Geoffroy also has close ties to Graham Spanier, president of Pennsylvania State University and chairman of the board, and said he is a good friend and colleague.

“I know many, many of them [board members] very well,” Geoffroy said.

Geoffroy said his new appointment should not interfere with his responsibilities as president as he takes several yearly trips to Washington, D.C., already.

“This is just one of the many responsibilities as president of a university,” Anderson said. “It’s important to be involved nationally.

“This is quite a feather in the hat of President Geoffroy and Iowa State.”