Mark Nook

Mark Nook, chancellor at Montana State University Billings, will become the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa, the Iowa Board of Regents announced Tuesday.

The regents unanimously selected Nook from a field of three finalists following a nationwide search led by a 21-member search committee.

Nook will assume his duties as president on Feb. 1. He succeeds former UNI President Bill Ruud, who accepted the presidency of Marietta College in July after three years at UNI. Nook will receive a three-year contract and will be paid an annual salary of $357,110.

Before his current position, Nook was the senior vice president for academic and student affairs at the University of Wisconsin System from 2011 to 2014. He also served as provost and interim chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and in a variety of roles at Southwest Minnesota State University. He graduated from Southwest Minnesota State with a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics in 1980, before obtaining a master’s degree in astrophysics from Iowa State University in 1983. Nook received his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990.

Jim Wohlpart, UNI provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, will continue as interim president until Nook takes office.