Coming back to Ames — let alone becoming the president of Iowa State University — seemed like a distant dream for David Cook. It’s been 34 years since the Ames native and Iowa State alumnus earned his bachelor’s degree, after which he went to the University of Kansas and began his career.

The next president of Iowa State University might not live on campus for the first time in the university’s history.

The Iowa Board of Regents announced Tuesday that David Cook will be the next president of Iowa State University. Cook, currently the president of North Dakota State University, will begin his term as Iowa State’s 17th president in 2026 following the retirement of current president Wendy Wintersteen, who announced her decision in May.

David Cook, the second of two finalists who visited Ames this week as part of the search process for Iowa State University’s next president, spoke at an open forum on Thursday with his vision for Iowa State and how a successful university president starts with a strong team and a shared goal of servant leadership.