The state Board of Regents saw the departure of two of its top leaders in April, and in about one month, it will see the departure of yet one more.

Robert Donley, the regents’ executive director and CEO, announced his resignation prior to their June 8 meeting, during which the regents formally accepted his resignation. As of July 15, his resignation will become effective.

Donley’s resignation comes after former Regent President Bruce Rastetter did not seek reappointment to the regents and former Gov. Terry Branstad opted to not reappoint former Regent President Pro Tem Katie Mulholland.

Rastetter’s and Mulholland’s terms ended April 30. The regents elected Regent Mike Richards to take Rastetter’s place and Regent Patty Cownie to serve as president pro tem in a telephonic meeting on May 1.

RELATED: Rastetter, Mulholland take their leave

When Donley said he initially received a call for the position on a warm and sunny June day in Florida, where he worked as the chief of staff and chief of operations in the state’s university system, he had no interest. After an hourlong phone call, however, he accepted the job.

Donley has served the regents since 2008, taking on the job on June 9 that year, shortly before the Iowa River crested on June 15, 2008, and resulting in a flood costing upwards of $700 million in damages to the University of Iowa campus.

“When I arrived, the floods were just about to happen in Iowa City,” he said. “But we were able to get beyond that and move forward, and I think the efforts of many of the folks who were there at the time, including former [UI] President Sally Mason, were really, really beneficial to the community.”

Regent Rachael Johnson issued a proclamation to acknowledge Donley’s efforts in coordinating the regents’ governance activities and leading the regents through searches for four university presidents as well as new regent leaders.

Two of those searches have been in the past year; the regents selected Mark Nook to fill the University of Northern Iowa presidency in December 2016, and Iowa State University is searching for a new president after former President Steven Leath accepted a position as president of Auburn University in March.

“Because of his extensive knowledge, insight, and experience in higher education and state and federal policies, he was able to help the regent enterprise navigate challenges over the years, including reductions in state appropriations …” he said. “Resident undergraduate tuition was frozen for 2½ years, the first time that occurred since the 1970s.”

Donley thanked the regents for their work and acknowledged the challenges they encounter in their positions.

“This is not an easy job …” he said. “Only when you’re in here, you know it’s not … As I explained to the board leadership in a recent meeting, my immediate plans include working on the transition with the board …”

Between now and July 15, when Donley is officially off the clock, the regents will appoint an interim executive director and organize a search to find a permanent replacement to fill the position.

The interim executive director will not be a candidate for the permanent position. Richards said during press availability after the June 8 meeting that was because he thinks it makes for a better search.

“[In the] short term, we have to assign his duties to other people,” he said.