AMES, IOWA – North Dakota State University President Dr. David Cook will be departing Fargo in early 2026.
The Iowa Board of Regents voted Tuesday afternoon to hire Cook to lead Iowa State University, which is located in Ames, beginning on March 1, 2026.
The initial contract period is for five years at a salary of $700,000 per year.
Cook has served as the President of North Dakota State University since 2022.
“This is a deeply personal decision, and one that Kate and I did not make lightly because of what NDSU has come to mean to us,” Cook said in a message to NDSU’s campus. “Our time here has been filled with extraordinary experiences and genuine connection.”
Planning is already underway to ensure continuity in leadership, with an internal transition team guiding next steps, North Dakota State University said in a press release. The State Board of Higher Education and North Dakota University System Commissioner will work in collaboration with campus leadership to name an interim president while a search is conducted.
