She is the university’s first female president and second ISU graduate to hold the position, but Wendy Wintersteen didn’t plan to be a university president. After eight years as president and a few years shy of half a century since she started at Iowa State, she will step back as she begins her journey of retirement.

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.

Benjamin Houlton’s vision for Iowa State University is to “unleash this great institution for even greater impact.” Houlton, first of two finalists to visit campus as part of the search process for Iowa State University’s next president, spoke to students, faculty, staff and community members at an open forum on Wednesday.

A search committee narrowed a list of 78 candidates hoping to be Iowa State University’s next president down to eight in a closed meeting on Monday. The committee will conduct virtual interviews with the eight semifinalists, whose names have not been made public, between Oct. 20 and Oct. 22.