Dr. David Cook, an Ames native and Iowa State alumnus, began his tenure as the 17th president of Iowa State University on March 1, 2026.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience at research-intensive universities, President Cook has built a strong record in strategic planning, student success, research growth, fundraising, government relations, extension, financial stewardship, shared governance and athletics.
From May 2022 to Feb.2026, Dr. Cook served as president of North Dakota State University, leading the institution to stabilize enrollment after years of decline, improve retention rates, and increase the number of graduates. The university also broke records for research expenditures and strengthened its position as an R1 institution.
Prior to NDSU, Dr. Cook held executive leadership roles at the University of Kansas, including vice chancellor for Public Affairs and Economic Development and vice chancellor of the KU Edwards Campus, serving as a top senior advisor to Chancellor Douglas Girod. He also spent 14 years at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he earned tenure in the School of Medicine. He conducted his dissertation research at an engineering firm in Shanghai and completed an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
President Cook serves on the Greater Des Moines Committee and the boards of the Big 12 Conference, America’s Cultivation Corridor (secretary, 2026-27), Greater Des Moines Partnership, Bankers Trust and the World Food Prize Foundation. He holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and speech communication from Iowa State University and a master’s and Ph.D. in organizational communication from the University of Kansas.
