Regents select David Cook as next president

The Iowa Board of Regents today named David Cook the 17th president of Iowa State University. 

Cook, president of North Dakota State University (NDSU), Fargo, succeeds Wendy Wintersteen, who will retire in her ninth year as Iowa State's president. Cook, who is an alumnus of Iowa State, will take office on March 1, 2026. He will be a tenured professor in the department of kinesiology and health.

Since 2022, Cook, 55, has led NDSU, a land-grant university with 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and a $971.5 million biennial budget. The institution has five academic colleges, seven agricultural research extension centers and 53 extension offices.

As NDSU's chief executive officer, Cook has prioritized student success, enriched research and land-grant missions while fostering collaboration to best serve the state of North Dakota. His accomplishments include the launch of a data-driven strategic plan that reversed 10 years of declining enrollment and revenues and invested in student advising and mentoring programs that increased retention of first-year students by 3% and graduation rates by 12%.

During Cook's time as president, North Dakota State's research funding and expenditures increased to historic levels. Under his leadership, an NDSU coalition secured a National Science Foundation regional innovation engines grant in agricultural technology, with a potential for $160 million in federal investment. Additionally, Cook helped launch fundraising efforts for initiatives to build leaders in artificial intelligence and drive solutions for modern agriculture. He is a tenured professor in NDSU's College of Health and Human Sciences.

Prior to his time at North Dakota State, Cook served as vice chancellor for public affairs and economic development at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. In this role, he coordinated efforts to align university priorities with federal opportunities, established the first university-wide economic development office and strategic plan and supported the KU Innovation Park. Cook also held several leadership roles at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.

As a faculty researcher, Cook was a principal or co-principal investigator on grants totaling nearly $11 million in external funding. He has published nearly 70 articles, book chapters and abstracts. In his career he has taught more than 25 courses in subjects that include health policy and management; diffusion, adoption and implementation of innovation; business and organizational communication; and strategic marketing.

Cook earned a bachelor's degree in political science and speech communication from Iowa State. He earned master's and doctoral degrees, both in organizational communication, from the University of Kansas. 

Cook's appointment concludes a four-month national search for Iowa State's next leader. His annual salary will be $700,000. He also will receive a five-year deferred compensation plan commencing on March 1, 2026, with annual contributions of $100,000. Cook's contract is for five years.

The regents also authorized monthly allowances for Cook of $8,000 for housing and $1,500 for a vehicle.

A 12-member presidential search committee was charged by the Iowa Board of Regents with identifying finalists for the board's consideration. The committee was co-chaired by Meghan Gillette, Faculty Senate president, and regent JC Risewick. Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search assisted with the selection of the next president.