Myrna Johnson, executive director of Iowa Public Radio, will retire later this year after leading the network for more than a decade. The IPR board of directors will launch a national search for her replacement. “Leading Iowa Public Radio and the amazing people behind it has been a privilege,” Johnson said in a prepared statement. “IPR has weathered some storms over the last 12 years. But each time we have come back stronger, delivering excellence to our audience and connecting Iowans with the news, music, information, and ideas that shape our world every day.” Johnson has led IPR since 2014. During that time, the organization navigated losses in state and federal funding, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a transition from a university-based network under the Iowa Board of Regents to an independent, community-based organization. Under Johnson’s leadership, IPR experienced record fundraising growth, increasing IPR’s statewide news presence, building a digital team and services and expanding the radio network with the launch of a 24-hour music station in Des Moines. Johnson has also served on the NPR board of directors for the past six years.