The Iowa Board of Regents announced Tuesday that David Cook will be the next president of Iowa State University.

The announcement came during the Regents’ monthly meeting and followed a unanimous vote on a four-month search.

“It’s quite an honor… I’m pretty overwhelmed, a little speechless, sincerely,” Cook said immediately after the announcement. “I really appreciate the hospitality throughout this whole process. It’s been amazing, exactly what I would expect of Iowa State, candidly, because the bar is pretty high.”

Cook, an Ames native, ISU alum and current the president of North Dakota State University, will begin his term as Iowa State’s 17th president in March following the retirement of current president Wendy Wintersteen, who announced her decision in May.

“I’m pretty fortunate to be following President Wintersteen, somebody who’s done an amazing job,” he continued. “She’s set the table exactly where the next person will be successful, and for that, I’m also very grateful.

“I look forward to working with all of you, so let’s get going!”

Cook was one of two finalists for the position. The other was Benjamin Houlton, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.

Search for the next president

The search began in July, when a 12-member committee was assembled to find the ideal president for the university. There were 78 named candidates who had tossed their hats in the ring to lead the institution, and in early October, that number was narrowed down to eight.

It was later narrowed down to four candidates, who would also have the opportunity to visit campus for an open forum to talk with students, faculty, staff and the local community and answer audience questions. One dropped out and another withdrew. Their names were not released to the public.

During each candidate’s open forums, both presented their visions for the university, where they’ve been, where they want to go and how they will accomplish their goals.

Last Thursday, Cook visited the campus he once roamed as an undergraduate student and presented his vision for the university. Now, he will be returning to his alma mater as the university’s president.

Cook spoke about how a successful university president starts with a strong team and a shared goal of servant leadership.

“My plan isn’t to come here and reinvent the wheel,” he said during his open forum. “It’s to build on President Wintersteen’s incredible legacy and foundation to make anything I can do maybe a little bit better.”

Who is David Cook?

Cook, an Ames native and ISU undergraduate alum, earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in organizational communication from the University of Kansas.

He has served as the president of North Dakota State University since 2022, overseeing 11 colleges in the university system and increasing enrollment, student retention, and graduation rates. He also increased research funding and revenue as well as secured funding for facilities and new degrees.

He also serves as a professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences at NDSU, according to his Curriculum Vitae.

Previously, he held vice chancellor positions at the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center, as well as various administrative roles at the latter. He was with KU from 2013 until 2022.

Cook also served as a full professor of communications studies at KU and, for several years, as an adjunct and assistant professor at KU and the KU Medical Center. He also has long lists of published research articles and grants. He sits on numerous institutional and regional boards and committees.

Wendy Wintersteen retires after 8 years as president, 46 at ISU

Wendy Wintersteen began her time at Iowa State as an entomology doctoral candidate, graduating in 1988, and became an assistant professor, leading pesticide management programs for the state, according to a 2018 profile in Iowa State’s Visions magazine.

She became director of Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1997, and in 2002, she became the senior associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).

In 2006, Wintersteen became the dean of CALS and the director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station until 2017, when she was named the university’s 16th president. She assumed office in 2018.

She also held the title of the university’s first female president and second Iowa State graduate to hold the position.

“I am fortunate to have served Iowa State University in many roles over the past 46 years, and it’s been a fascinating journey,” Wintersteen said in a release from ISU News Service about her retirement. “I am truly proud of Iowa State’s extraordinary faculty and staff for their remarkable performance these past years. Perhaps most of all, I will miss the amazing energy, talent and potential of our Iowa State students.”

Read more about Wintersteen’s accomplishments, successes and initiatives during her time as president at ISU News Service.

LATER (Nov. 12): At a press conference immediately following the presidential announcement, Cook was introduced to the public and answered some questions, revealing things such as the fact that during the search process, members of the search committee reached out to him to apply.

His annual salary will be $700,000, and he also will receive a five-year deferred compensation plan commencing on March 1, 2026 with annual contributions of $100,000. His contract is for five years.

For some previous reads on Cook, here is a 2019 story when he presented as a finalist for vice chancellor for the University of Kansas’ Edwards campus. He focused on teamwork and collaboration.

Here is a 2022 story, when he was announced as the president of North Dakota State University.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated David Cook will begin as ISU president in January. He will begin serving in March. The article has been corrected. The Voice regrets the error.