Sally Mason has stepped into retirement and the vice president for medical affairs, Jean Robillard, is now the interim president at the University of Iowa.

Robillard is also leading the committee to find a permanent replacement for Mason. He says it is an exciting time to be on campus as thousands of students will soon be returning to Iowa City, including 5100 freshmen.

Robillard says he knows the operation of the university pretty well having been the vice president overseeing the University Hospitals since 2007.  Robillard could be in the U-I’s top spot for around two months as the search committee he leads is looking at a timeline of naming a new president in September.