The search is on for a new athletic director at Iowa State, but in the meantime, Elaine Hieber is in charge. Hieber was named interim athletic director earlier this month and will hold the post until Iowa State can find a replacement for former athletic director Gene Smith. Smith left Iowa State to take the athletic director job at Arizona State University. Hieber isn’t a stranger to the athletic department as she also holds the post of senior associate athletics director, which she has vacated for the time being. Hieber was also the senior women’s administrator. “I’ve been here for a while and I’m rather familiar with the day to day operations. Gene Smith was very good at making me involved in major decisions and policy making. It’s a challenge, juggling two positions at once but the nice thing is that we have such an outstanding staff,” Hieber said. Hieber said working with athletes is among the high points of her position. “The outstanding student athletes are probably the most rewarding part of my job. To watch them succeed through four or five years is great. I also like the fact that we have such a great graduation rate,” Hieber said. “The other part of the job I like is the people I work with. They’ve stepped up their responsibilities and done a great job,” she said. Hieber came to Iowa State in 1979 to take the job of assistant director of athletics. In 1990, Hieber was promoted to her current job of senior athletics director. As her job duties include overseeing student services, media relations, human resources and internal operations. The federal law, Title IX, was passed in 1972 to create gender sharing in collegiate sports. Hieber feels this landmark law is responsible for career path. “My first job came about because of Title IX. When you talk about athletic opportunities for women, it’s the most important legislation that has impacted chances for women across the board,” Hieber said. A 22-member committee, consisting of athletes, coaches, administrators and community leaders, has been formed to find Smith’s replacement.