Regents debate potential membership of UI intellectual freedom center advisory group

by Brooklyn Draisey, Iowa Capital Dispatch
September 17, 2025

Members of the Iowa Board of Regents on Wednesday recommended approval for the group that will advise the University of Iowa’s new center for intellectual freedom, despite concerns over the political and geographical spread of the proposed group.

At Wednesday’s board meeting, regent Christine Hensley, who will chair the advisory board, updated the board on the center’s progress. Legislation passed in the spring mandated the formation of the center, placing it under the purview of the Iowa Board of Regents.

Board President Sherry Bates said during discussion of the center that with advisory board members and an interim director identified, the center can begin its work.

“Civic education is a priority for this board,” Bates said. “We believe in civil and free inquiry, and are hopeful that with the establishment of this center at University of Iowa, as well as similar initiatives at ISU and UNII, the flow of individual ideas and opinions will continue to flourish.”

While the law states the advisory council must include at least nine members, the list recommended for approval includes 26 names set to serve either two- or four-year terms. It is currently unknown whether all of the members will have voting abilities or not, but Hensley said during the meeting the “intent” is to have the entire board vote.

Regents Robert Cramer and Kurt Tjaden will join Hensley in serving four-year terms on the advisory council, according to board documents, and Jim Lindenmayer and Mike Richards, both former regents, will serve for two years. Peter Matthes, UI vice president for external relations and senior advisor to the president, will be the sole representation for the university on the advisory council and serve a four-year term.

Former Iowa state senator Liz Mathis would serve a four-year term on the advisory council, joined by University of Austin President Carlos Carvalho, Fareway CEO Reynolds Cramer, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation Policy Director John Hendrickson and other economists and academics.

Ambassador and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and former U.S. House member Greg Ganske would serve two-year terms alongside faculty and corporate executives from across the U.S.

Hensley emphasized during the meeting that the proposed advisory council membership is politically balanced, with 12 members identifying as independent, 11 Republicans and three Democrats. Gov. Kim Reynolds and her office worked with Hensley to recruit people for the council, she said, and tapped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to identify leaders in the development of similar centers in the state.

According to data compiled by the Independent Voter Project, Iowa’s voting base is split in near-thirds, with approximately 37% Republicans, 34% unaffiliated and 28% Democrats as of Aug. 27. On the advisory board, Democrats would make up just over 11% of the group, Republicans would make up around 42% and independents would fill the rest.

Regent Nancy Dunkel was the only board member to ask questions about those nominated to the advisory board and cast the sole “no” vote on the list of names recommended for board approval.

In addition to her issues with the minority of women on the council and the political breakdown of its potential members, one of Dunkel’s biggest concerns was that half of the individuals are not residents of Iowa. That will dilute Iowans’ votes and voice in the center, she said, adding that many of the individuals are unknown to the majority of the regents beyond their reputation.

“I can see that you want to go get advice from groups of people, but to actually name them to an advisory committee is baffling to me,” Dunkel said.

Olivia Jones, a University of Iowa graduate worker and member of the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students, also expressed her concern with the makeup of the advisory council members during public comment Wednesday.

Citing research she conducted and sent to the board, Jones said 22 of the 26 proposed advisory board members are either Republicans, donors to Republican campaigns or involved with conservative think tanks, agreeing with Dunkel’s comments about the group’s political balance.

The center’s interim director, UI professor Luciano de Castro, has stated that most UI instructors are left-leaning without providing any information to back the claim up, Jones said, and has an outsized amount of power in hiring and other planning efforts. Hensley said during the meeting a national search will take place to identify the official director.

While Regent David Barker pointed out that a Google search shows the candidates’ work and credentials that qualify them for the council, Dunkel said the group should slow down and think more about who they are and what they could bring to the center.

With the legislation mandating that only one member of the advisory board can come from the UI, Hensley said she and others involved in filling the board saw an opportunity to look outside Iowa’s borders to find the best people.

“I don’t think it’s important at this point that we have to know them personally, but their records speak volumes for them, and if we really want to make this an example of a center that’s going to be successful, we have to look at those individuals outside the area,” Hensley said.

Board of Regents Counsel Aimee Claeys said during the meeting “detailed conversations” about council policies and procedures have not been conducted yet, and Hensley said she was unsure of whether out-of-state members would be reimbursed or provided funds for travel and other expenses when coming to Iowa. Dunkel said board of regents members are not paid in any way for their travel or anything else, and her expectation is that the council will be treated the same.

Dunkel introduced a motion to table the decision until some of this information can be parsed out, but it failed to receive a second. Board President Sherry Bates said during the meeting that many of Dunkel’s questions “need to be answered,” which she expects will happen through the process of creating bylaws and other work.

Barker thanked Hensley for her efforts in preparing for the launch of the center — an idea he said he’s been “pushing for” since he was appointed to the board six years ago.

“I’m really excited to see it happen, and I think it’s going to be a center that will receive national recognition, a national reputation, and help boost the University of Iowa,” Barker said.

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