North Dakota State President David Cook Named Next Leaderโข of Iowa Stateโข University
AMES, Iowa – In a unanimous decision announced Tuesday, the Iowa Board of regentsโ selected North Dakota Stateโ University (NDSU) President David Cook as the next president of Iowa State University.โ Cook โwill begin his five-year term on March 1, 2026, returning to his alma mater and aโ state he and his wife, Kate, call home.
The announcement, โmade via livestreamโ from the Iowa State Memorial Union, concluded a search process that alsoโฃ included Benjamin Houlton, Dean of the College of Agriculture and โLife Sciences at Cornell โUniversity.
“I wasโ pretty overwhelmed, a little speechless, sincerely,” Cook โฃstated following the board’s decision, expressing gratitude for the possibility. “Iโ look forward to working with all of you, so let’s get going.”
Cook’s appointment comes with a thorough compensation package, including an annualโค salaryโ of $700,000, a $100,000 annual contribution โขto a five-year โdeferredโ compensation plan, a $8,000 โmonthly housing โallowance
