Mark Wiederspan will become executive director of the Iowa College Aid in January. He was selected by the agency’s board of commissioners. Wiederspan will replace Karen Misjak who will retire on Jan. 24. Miskjak has been at the agency for 15 years. Wiederspan joined Iowa College Aid as executive research officer in June 2018 and was named division administrator for research and communications in August. He previously was a faculty member at Arizona State University. Iowa College Aid administers 12 state-funded grant, scholarship and loan forgiveness programs, as well as federally-funded GEAR UP and AmeriCorps grants to promote college access. Wiederspan will oversee a staff of 42 full-time employees in the agency’s offices at 475 S.W. Fifth St. in Des Moines.