Mark Braun Hired as Board of Regents Executive Director

The Board of Regents, State of Iowa has hired Mark Braun, currently the Chief Operating Officer for the Board, as its next Executive Director.

Braun, who will begin his duties as Executive Director on November 1, succeeds Dr. Robert Donley, who resigned in June.  Keith Saunders has been serving as Interim Executive Director and will continue in that role until November 1.

Braun has served in the Board of Regents system since October 1998. From 1998-2008, Braun advocated for the Board on behalf of the University of Iowa as its State Relations Officer. Subsequently, he served as Chief of Staff and Vice President of External Relations for University of Iowa President Sally Mason. Braun was tapped by the Board to lead its efficiency efforts as the Transformation Project Manager and Vice President for Operational Efficiency and Regulatory Analysis in 2014 and 2015. He was then appointed as the Board’s Chief Operating Officer in December 2015.

Braun holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Business Administration degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa. Additionally, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration.