The Board of Regents has hired Mark Braun, currently the chief operating officer of the board, as its next executive director. Braun, who will begin his new duties Nov. 1, succeeds Robert Donley, who resigned in June. Keith Saunders, who has been serving as interim executive director, will continue in that role until Nov. 1. Braun has worked for the Board of Regents since October 1998. He was previously chief of staff and vice president of external relations for former University of Iowa President Sally Mason. Braun was tapped by the board to lead its efficiency efforts as the transformation project manager and vice president for operational efficiency and regulatory analysis in 2014 and 2015. He was then appointed as the board’s chief operating officer in December 2015. Braun holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Business Administration degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa. Additionally, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration.