Meet the Senior Vice President

Dr. Sean D. Reeder is the senior vice president for operations and finance at Iowa State University. In this capacity, he oversees six key areas: finance, financial planning and analysis, facilities planning and management, auxiliary enterprise, real estate and capital planning, and operations and strategy. The division of operations and finance is comprised of 800+ dedicated staff that work to support the mission of the university.

Dr. Reeder’s research focus is on higher education public policy, specifically related to capital investment.  He previously served as vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and vice president of business affairs at Eastern Illinois University. He also held positions as the assistant vice president of capital programs and utility services at the University of Illinois, president of the university-owned energy corporation Prairieland Energy Inc., and assistant director of technology commercialization at Michigan State University.

Dr. Reeder’s career spans both the public and private sectors, with significant experience in real estate development, venture capital, and industrial engineering capital projects. Dr. Reeder is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served aboard a nuclear submarine.

Dr. Reeder is from rural Piatt County, Illinois, and is a proud first-generation student.  He holds a Ph.D. in education policy, organization, and leadership, a master of business administration, and a bachelor of science in general engineering, all from the University of Illinois.