Update: Iowa State University’s 17th president is Ames native and North Dakota State University presdient, David Cook.
After initially narrowing its candidate pool to four, Iowa State University and the Iowa Board of Regents are expected to pick one of two finalists as the school’s 17th president today.
Cornell University dean Benjamin Houlton and North Dakota State University president David Cook are in Ames on Tuesday, Nov. 11 as part of an all-day interview process.
The pair each made on-campus appearances the week of Nov. 5 to visit with faculty and the general community.
President Wendy Wintersteen announced her plan to retire in May, ending an eight-year tenure for Iowa State’s first female president.
“I am fortunate to have served Iowa State University in many roles over the past 46 years, and it’s been a fascinating journey,” Wintersteen said in ISU’s news release. “I am truly proud of Iowa State’s extraordinary faculty and staff for their remarkable performance these past years. Perhaps most of all, I will miss the amazing energy, talent and potential of our Iowa State students.”
The Iowa Board of Regents received 78 applications to fill Wintersteen’s position, which they initially trimmed to eight semifinalists. After two closed-session meetings on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, the board emerged with four final candidates, two of which dropped out prior to visiting Ames.
When did the Iowa State presidential candidates visit campus?
Houlton visited the Iowa State campus on Wednesday, Nov. 5. He held a public forumn that evening, speaking on several of his top priorities, which included AI.
Ames native and Iowa State graduate David Cook visited the next day on Thursday, Nov. 6. He talked about a “homecoming” and his desire to engage with students and faculty and to listen.
When will the new Iowa State president be announced?
The Board of Regents are interviewing both candidates in closed session on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The meeting started at 9 a.m. in the Iowa State Memorial Union. The board said they expect to announce the new hire around 3:30 p.m. at a news conference.
The Regents said they plan to publicly introduce the new president at 6 p.m., Tuesday at the Memorial Union.
The announcment will be livestreamed on the Regents website (https://www.iowaregents.edu/).
Iowa State, Regents establish presidential search committee
A 12-person search committee was created in June, tasked with researching and selecting the next Iowa State president. The committee was co-chaired by Regent JC Risewick and ISU faculty senate president Meghan Gillette.
How much is Iowa State president Wendy Wintersteen making in salary?
Wintersteen’s annual salary for the 2025 fiscal year is $735,000, according to the Iowa State Legislature’s State Employee Salary Book.
Wintersteen was pulling in an annual salary of $710,000 last fiscal year, according to a Iowa City Press-Citizen report. She received $110,000 in raises in the last two years, including a $60,000 bump from the Iowa Board of Regents in June 2025.
Wintersteen took a $59,000 pay cut in 2020, a 10 % salary reduction, to help the university recover from revenue losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her base salary in 2017, when she was chosen as the school’s next president, was $525,000, and it rose to $590,000 in year three.
Who is new Iowa State president David Cook?
David Cook, an Iowa State graduate and Ames native, was one of two finalists for the open presidency. He beat out Cornell’s Benjamin Houlton to replace ISU president Wendy Wintersteen.
(This article has been updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: When will Iowa State name its new president? Decision expected today during Regents meeting
Reporting by Brandon Hurley, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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