Dr. John Keller is serving as special assistant to the provost, after stepping down as associate provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate College in May 2021, and serving as interim president of the University of Iowa from until July 15, 2021.  

Dr. Keller was appointed associate provost and dean in 2002 after serving on an interim basis for two years.  Dr. Keller is currently a tenured Professor of Dental Research and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.  He has authored over 80 peer reviewed manuscripts and 250 abstracts pertaining to dental and orthopedic biomaterials and implant related research.  Since his appointment in the Graduate College, Dr. Keller has undertaken major efforts to redistribute resources to graduate students and programs using student and program outcome measures.  He led efforts to establish a uniform tuition scholarship program at Iowa and he has aided in the establishment of new and expanded graduate fellowship programs.  He has also provided oversight for the development of over fourteen new graduate programs at Iowa since 2000, as well as the initiation of the Office of Graduate  Inclusion, designed to coordinate diversity efforts at the graduate level.  Most recently, Dr. Keller has led a year-long assessment of all graduate programs at Iowa resulting in restructuring of some programs and stimulation of efforts to improve graduate student outcomes.  He has spoken about these subjects at regional and national workshops and meetings.  Dr. Keller has served on national graduate committees in the Association of Graduate Schools and the Council of Graduate Schools.  He has served as Chair of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation graduate deans group, as well as three year terms of service on the board of directors for the Council of Graduate Schools and the AAU-Association of Graduate Schools.