The Regents will meet in a special meeting telephonically this Wednesday to appoint a new interim director of the Board, Keith Saunders.

Saunders is replacing Robert Donley, who has served as executive director (or chief executive officer) of the Board of Regents since 2008. Donley announced his resignation at the June meeting.

Saunders first day as Interim Executive Director for the Board of Regents will be effective July 16. His annual salary is set at $200,000.

The Board of Regents is a group of nine citizen volunteers who govern the state’s three public universities and two special K-12 schools – the Iowa School for the Deaf and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School – through policymaking, coordination and oversight.

Saunders joined the Board Office staff in September 2004, and has been a State Relations Officer and legislative contact for the Board of Regents for the University of Northern Iowa.  In 2008, Saunders was assigned to the University of Iowa as a State Relations Officer and currently serves as a primary public affairs and legislative contact for the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Saunders also serves as an Associate Counsel to the Board of Regents, according to the Regent website.