The ISU Department of Residence has filled a position long left vacant.

Iowa State has named Gregory Lee, a former deputy director at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., assistant director of residence for administrative services. Lee started the position March 27.

Lee will serve as chief financial officer for the Department of Residence, a position left open when David Popelka left to be assistant director of the ISU Computation Center last year.

The job was filled in the interim by Gary Schwartz, the department’s associate director for operations.

Randy Alexander, director of residence, said the department conducted a thorough search for Popelka’s permanent replacement.

“We did a national search and asked three people to come to the campus. Basically, it was a unanimous decision,” he said.

Alexander said Lee was chosen because of his experience.

“We thought he was the best qualified, with a background in financial budgeting and computers, and he currently was in Cornell University,” he said. “He’s familiar with a university environment and has worked in real estate, which will help with the Master Plan,” the department’s initiative to renovate several ISU dormitories.

Lee said his experience in real estate will help him excel at Iowa State.

“I worked for a firm that specialized in multi-unit residential housing with the majority of properties located just outside the university,” he said, “so I became familiar with the needs of students.”

He was previously employed as deputy director of Finance and Administration for Networking and Computer Systems at Cornell from 1996 to 1999.

From 1992 to 1996, Lee was manager of Business Operations for Cornell Information Technologies. He received a B.S. in accounting from Ithaca College in 1981.

Lee said he came to Iowa State because of the people.

“I had a friend in the Computation Center, and I heard about how friendly the Midwest is, so I thought I would come out and see,” Lee said.

“The staff here has really made me feel welcome and offered me help when I needed it. I’m eager to bring my family out here, and they’re eager to come.”