University of Iowa begins national search for chief financial officer

Iowa Capital Dispatch · Brooklyn Draisey · September 8, 2026

The University of Iowa has contracted with a search firm and created a committee to select a new chief financial officer. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The University of Iowa has launched a national search for a new financial leader, with plans to shift other leadership responsibilities.

The Iowa City public university announced in a news release it has formed a search committee to find a new chief financial officer after Terry Johnson, who currently holds the role, announced his April 5 retirement.

Search firm Spencer Stuart has been contracted by the university to help with the search, according to the release, and UI Vice President for External Operations and senior advisor to the president Peter Matthes and College of Public Health Dean Edith Parker will head the search committee.

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Whoever is selected for the job will report directly to UI President Barbara Wilson, the release stated. The position will also have some new duties previously undertaken by Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations Rod Lehnertz, who will have “finance” dropped from his title to focus more on “the physical, administrative and operational infrastructure that supports the university’s missions.”

“Our financial strength gives us the opportunity to think strategically about how we invest in the university’s future,” Wilson said in the release. “Having the CFO report directly to the president will bring that financial perspective into our highest-level decisions and ensure that our resources continue to be aligned with our priorities. At the same time, having dedicated leadership for campus operations will allow our infrastructure functions to have the focus they need to serve the university well.”

Iowa Board of Regents member Nancy Dunkel has a role on the search committee following rule changes to the board’s policy manual requiring a board member to sit on search committees for all university positions that report directly to the president. Dunkel spoke out against the rule changes during the meeting, and voted against the measure with Regents Greta Rouse and Lucy Gipple.

Other search committee members include Director of Athletics Beth Goetz, Division of Student Life Business Officer Scott Seagren, Faculty Senate past president Craig Just, UI Health Care Associate Vice President Brad Haws, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senior Director for Business and Financial Administration Ryan Kirkey and Staff Council President-elect Ashley Peters.

“Working closely with university and health care leaders, the Iowa Board of Regents, and stakeholders across the institution, the chief financial officer will align financial resources with strategic priorities and support institutional decision-making through analysis and forecasting,” the release stated. “The CFO also will promote transparency, accountability, and stewardship of university resources.”

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