Ruxandra Looft was announced as the new director of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center on Wednesday afternoon, after a series of forums and interviews.

Looft, known to students, faculty and staff as Sandra, was born in Romania and holds a doctorate in German and comparative literature.

Looft has been with Iowa State since 2010, as a lecturer of German and international studies and an Academic Advising Coordinator in the World Languages and Cultures department starting in 2013, though she began with the department in 2010.

Looft also lectures in the Women and Gender Studies department and leads a study abroad program in Germany for the college of Language Arts and Sciences.

Alissa Stoehr, a sociology and women’s and gender studies professor and interim director of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, said she’s looking forward to working with Looft.

“I am very excited that Dr. Looft has joined the staff at the MSWC,” Stoehr said. “She has a wide range of knowledge and experience that will lend well to the mission and values of the MWSC.”

Stoehr moved into the role as interim director in February 2018, after the departure of Lorraine Acker.

Looft said she has her goals and ideas but is deeply interested in hearing input from students, faculty and staff. She said she wants to continue the trend of the Sloss Women’s Center being open to all on campus.

Looft said she applied to be the director for many reasons and had been involved with the Women’s Center since first arriving on campus.

“My own research and writing in publications are all focused on gender studies,” Looft said. “Naturally, my scholarship factored heavily into what I teach, it also factors highly into my involvement on campus.”