The University gave us this statement as they announced their president was leaving:
University of Northern Iowa President Bill Ruud is leaving the university to accept a position as the president of Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. Ruud will assume his new duties at Marietta College on July 3. An interim president will be named at the June Board of Regents meeting.
“As we look to the future, it is important to remember that the only constant in our lives is change,” said Ruud. “Our time in Cedar Falls has been a blessing. The relationships that have been made will last forever. As the university moves toward its 150th anniversary in 2026, it is my hope that the students, faculty and staff here will continue to make UNI what it is – the University of Nothing Impossible.”
In his three-year tenure as president of UNI, Ruud has helped guide the university with a commitment to achieving academic excellence and increasing student enrollment. For three consecutive years, UNI has ranked second in the “Best Regional Universities (Midwest)” category for public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. Enrollment numbers have also continued to climb each year under Ruud’s leadership, alongside improved 4- and 6-year graduation rates.
Ruud was named the 10th president of UNI in 2013. Prior to his arrival at UNI, Ruud served as president of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.