Brian Lenzmeier

President Lenzmeier, who joined BVU in 2003 as a Professor of Biology, was named BVU’s 19th President in Oct. 2020. He has shared his talents in many capacities on campus, moving into leadership roles as Chair of the Faculty Senate and Dean of the Faculty before assuming the role of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs followed by Interim President.

President Lenzmeier was named “Faculty Member of the Year” twice by BVU Student Senate and was the 2009 George Wythe Award recipient—the University’s highest honor for excellence in teaching. An advocate for rural health care and education, he has as served on the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Community Advisory Council and the Faith, Hope and Charity Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Iowa Lakes Corridor Board of Directors and the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Task Force.

The native of Willmar, Minn. earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Colorado State University and holds a B.A. in biology from Saint John’s University. He also completed post-doctoral research in molecular biology at Princeton University and was a visiting research fellow in molecular medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 2011.