North Dakota State President David Cook Named Next Leader of Iowa State University
AMES, Iowa – In a unanimous decision announced Tuesday, the Iowa Board of regents selected North Dakota State University (NDSU) President David Cook as the next president of Iowa State University. Cook will begin his five-year term on March 1, 2026, returning to his alma mater and a state he and his wife, Kate, call home.
The announcement, made via livestream from the Iowa State Memorial Union, concluded a search process that also included Benjamin Houlton, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.
“I was pretty overwhelmed, a little speechless, sincerely,” Cook stated following the board’s decision, expressing gratitude for the possibility. “I look forward to working with all of you, so let’s get going.”
Cook’s appointment comes with a thorough compensation package, including an annual salary of $700,000, a $100,000 annual contribution to a five-year deferred compensation plan, a $8,000 monthly housing allowance
