Des Moines Register
10-19-07
Baumert named Regents interim director
By ERIN JORDAN
REGISTER IOWA CITY BUREAU
Iowa Board of Regents President Michael Gartner has named Andy Baumert, a
board office staff member, to be interim executive director of the board that
governs Iowa’s public universities.
Gartner announced the appointment in an e-mail Thursday to regents, university
leaders and board staff.
“Andy is highly respected at the universities and the special schools, at the board
office, and in the legislature, where he has spent much time over the years,”
Gartner wrote. “I believe that his acceptance of this appointment means we will
have as smooth a transition as possible.”
Baumert’s appointment is effective at the end of October, when Gary Steinke
leaves the director position. Steinke has taken a post with the Iowa Association
of Independent Colleges and Universities.
Baumert will serve as interim director until a search for a permenant director is
completed.
Baumert, who is the board’s state relations officer, has been with the board office
since September 2004. Prior to that, he served four years as at Iowa State
University in state governmental affairs, according to the regents website.
Baumert has served in lobbying, public policy development, and policy
communication roles at the state and federal levels since 1987 when he joined
the Iowa Pork Producers Association. He has held similar positions for the
National Pork Producers Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and
Land O’Lakes.
Mr. Baumert is a journalism graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln