Simpson Begins Search for Interim President

Simpson College has commenced its search for an interim president to replace Jay Byers ‘93, who passed away April 17.

“Our intent is to move forward with both prudence and expediency,” said Board of Trustees Acting Chair Terry Lillis ’77. “We will leverage our extensive network of contacts to identify strong candidates who would be best positioned to lead Simpson through this challenging time of transition.”

While no specific search timeline has been established, the board expects to have an interim president in place for the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year. Until the interim president assumes office, Terry Handley ’09 will continue to be Simpson’s acting president. Handley has been serving in that role since April 21, when he transitioned from his duties as board chair.