Owen Newlin, president of the Board of Regents, announced the appointment of Gregory S. Nichols as the board’s executive director.

Nichols has been an adviser to Gov. Tom Vilsack since 1999 and has served as legislative director, education adviser and policy director.

He served as a member of the staff of the Iowa Senate since 1981.

Nichols received his bachelor’s degree in distributed studies from Iowa State in 1979, his master’s in public policy from Rutgers University in 1980 and is currently a doctoral candidate in educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State.

Nichols succeeds Robert Barak, who has served as interim executive director since Frank Stork resigned as executive director in July. Barak will return to his position as deputy executive director.

Nichols will assume his responsibilities at a date to be determined after the first of the year.

– Sara Tennessen