IOWA CITY — At a time demanding “stability anchored by insightful leadership,” the University of Iowa opted to skip a lengthy and costly search for a new provost by appointing the interim provost to the position permanently. Kevin Kregel, serving as interim provost since July, will become provost and executive vice president Feb. 15, the UI announced Thursday. Kregel last summer took on the provost job temporarily until a successor to Montserrat Fuentes could be hired. Fuentes resigned after one year on the job. In a statement Thursday, UI President Bruce Harreld said Kregel during his interim stint “demonstrated strong leadership and collaboration that has helped carry the university through the challenging pandemic.”