John Parks is leaving his position as president and chief executive officer of the Iowa State Research Park for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Parks will serve as the director of the University of Illinois’ Research Park effective Sept. 16.

Parks served as the president of the ISU Research Park since August 1997.

He had also served as a member of the Ames City Council and as the vice president of Dasher Management Corp.

The Board of Directors of the ISU Research Park will announce an interim president in the near future.