‘Coming Back to Where it All Began’ — Iowa State University’s 17th President, David Cook, Reflects on His Journey Home

David Cook never imagined his career would bring him back to his hometown — let alone to lead his alma mater.

“I never had this idea of coming back to Ames or being the president of Iowa State,” Dave (’92) says. “That was never a goal.”

But his wife, Katie (’94), is quick to point out, “You would throw it out there — ‘But if I could be president of Iowa State?’ I just don’t think you ever thought it could really happen.”

On March 1, that quiet aspiration became a momentous reality as David Cook began his tenure as the 17th president of Iowa State University.

“We’re very blessed to be returning home. Coming back to the university that created this amazing journey for me — where it all began — is special,” he says. “I was somebody who didn’t know if they belonged at college or even what I wanted to be. Iowa State opened up so many doors. Now, having an opportunity to lead an institution that can do that for others — that’s the appeal.”

A Special Place to Grow Up

Dave was born in Ames, attended Ames High School, and graduated from Iowa State University. Growing up near the Iowa State campus shaped his childhood.

“I have very fond memories of going to Iowa State with my dad,” Dave says. “Going to Beyer Hall. Going to Lake LaVerne to fish or ice skate.”

Dave always knew higher education was part of his plan, and he credits his parents for instilling core values.

“I was raised to work hard and be independent. Those were the things that had a profound influence on me.”

He pursued undergraduate degrees in political science and speech communication, reflecting interests formed at a young age.

“I have this very fond memory of when I was 6 years old in 1976, and we went and watched President Gerald Ford speak outside of Fisher Theater. There is something about being in Ames and having Iowa be the epicenter of presidential elections and I think that’s probably something that just got my attention early on.”

As a first-generation college student, Dave initially felt out of his element. “The first day they passed out the syllabus, I had no idea what that was. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t belong here.’”

But soon he found his footing and built connections, including through his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha.

“One of the great things about a university is it provides you a way to get involved and get engaged with different organizations. And for me, Greek life was a great way to meet a really diverse group of folks. I have lifelong friends from those days.”

Mentors Made a Difference

Though he originally planned on law school, Dave was inspired by a communication studies professor to consider a different path. Terry Pickett, who worked for Iowa State from 1981 to 2000, encouraged Dave to attend graduate school at his alma mater, the University of Kansas.

At KU, Dave earned both a master’s degree and PhD in organizational communication. He lived in Shanghai while conducting his dissertation research at an engineering firm. He then spent 14 years at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he earned tenure in the School of Medicine.

In 2011, he was selected for an American Council on Education Fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dave attributes this experience to opening his eyes to higher education leadership.

“What was great about it was there were people who invested in me, who believed in me, who mentored me to give me that opportunity,” he says. “That’s what got me thinking maybe I want to be a president someday.”

Dave went on to hold 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, where he served as the top senior advisor to Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod.

Katie proudly recalls, “[Chancellor Girod] so believed in Dave and wanted him to be a president. He believed that Dave should take that next step.”

That next step came in 2022, when Dave was named president of North Dakota State University. He quickly made an impact — stabilizing enrollment after years of decline, increasing retention rates, and growing the number of graduates. Under his leadership, NDSU also broke records for research expenditures and strengthened its position as an R1 institution.

Dave and Katie are proud of what they accomplished over the past four years in Fargo and believe that experience has prepared them well for the leap to Iowa State University.

“There are a lot of amazing things happening at Iowa State — let’s build on it and take it to the next level,” says Dave. “The world is changing, and we’ve got to evolve and change too.”

Land-Grant Passion, Future-Focused

With the shifting landscape of higher education, Iowa State, like every university, must adapt and innovate for a successful future. Dave recognizes the challenges. In fact, he sees this as an opportunity to reaffirm the promise of land-grant institutions.

“As a first-generation college student, the land-grant mission is deeply personal to me because it’s about ensuring access to education,” says Dave. “Iowa State has been committed to this since opening its doors nearly 160 years ago. Today, more than 1 in 5 ISU students (20.7%) are the first in their family to go to college.”

With its dynamic “Innovate at Iowa State” culture, Dave believes the university has created a winning formula. Combining academic excellence and experiential learning with innovative and entrepreneurial thinking, Iowa State graduates are equipped for a rapidly changing world. Dave wants to build on this progress, especially in areas like artificial intelligence.

“Iowa State is well-positioned to be a true leader in artificial intelligence — figuring out how to embrace the ethical use of AI across all disciplines,” he says. “What excites me most is that AI’s impact isn’t limited to STEM fields. Every discipline has a role to play, and the social sciences and humanities are more important now than ever. AI is promising for advancing research and expediting discovery as well as transforming education and teaching. I envision that becoming a North Star and a pillar.”

While digital innovation has made vast amounts of information widely accessible to the masses, Dave emphasizes a defining characteristic of Iowa State: extension and outreach.

“We have faculty and staff extension specialists in every county in Iowa listening to and learning from citizens, sharing their expertise, and building trust,” he says. “That’s the beauty of a land grant.”

Among the many areas where Iowa State excels is agricultural innovation. Iowa State is also home to the only U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory located on a university campus, the Ames National Laboratory. With this unique combination, Dave is confident ISU can push new boundaries.

“Energy and agriculture are issues of national defense. The connection between them has never been more paramount than it is right now. How do we bring those together — what’s the moon shot? I think that’s very exciting.”

Industry partnerships are another aspect of Dave’s vision. He notes the Iowa State University Research Park has set a national standard for connecting companies with university talent and innovation and launching new businesses. He also pointed to the CyTown development as a catalyst for new partnerships and revenue.

“I’m thrilled that we have this kind of strategic thinking happening and very optimistic about the opportunities ahead.”

Dave says he feels fortunate to be stepping into the top role at a university that is already on solid footing and acknowledges former President Wendy Wintersteen (’88) for her exceptional leadership.

“She’s done an amazing job and the whole team has helped set me up to be successful in a way that I never expected,” he says.

Dave hasn’t wasted any time getting up to speed and considering ways to hasten Iowa State’s momentum. Even before his tenure officially began, he spent hours meeting with university leaders and stakeholders. For Dave, alumni are a vital part of shaping the university’s future.

“I think the role of alumni is more critical now than ever,” he says. “They want to give back to the institution that changed their lives. They can help us get through challenges and think about the opportunities.”

As the pace of change accelerates, Dave is clear-eyed about what it will take for Iowa State to thrive into the future.

“We’ve got to be willing to think differently because the way we do things now isn’t going to be the way successful universities do things 10 years from now, five years, or even two years from now.”