University of Iowa President Sally Mason today announced she will retire Aug. 1, after serving as president for eight years. 

Mason, who will turn 65 in May, said the timing feels right both personally and professionally.

In a release, Mason said the holiday break gave her and her husband time to “reflect on how we’d like to spend the next few years.”

When she returned from break, she approached the Board of Regents, the governing board of Iowa’s public universities, about retirement. 

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the president of this great institution,” Mason said in a prepared statement.

Mason began her term as the University of Iowa President in August 2007. 

“President Mason has been a tremendous advocate for the university and a national leader in the higher education community,” said Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter in a news release. “Thanks to her leadership during the floods and economic downturn, the University of Iowa continued to provide an affordable and high quality education during challenging times.”

The Board of Regents will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the Main Lounge of the University of Iowa Memorial Union to discuss the university’s options moving forward.