IOWA CITY — At a time demanding “stability anchored by insightful leadership,” the University of Iowa has opted to skip a lengthy and costly search for another new executive vice president and provost by appointing its interim to assume the position permanently.Kevin Kregel in July stepped in as a temporary successor to Monsterrat Fuentes after the short-lived provost resigned just one year into the job following an extensive search to replace former Provost Barry Butler — who left in 2017 and was succeeded on an interim basis by Sue Curry.