AMES, Iowa — North Dakota State University President David Cook has been chosen as the next president at Iowa State University.

The Iowa Board of Regents announced it selected Cook for the job in a livestream on YouTube on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

The other finalist was Benjamin Houlton, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

In its announcement, the board said Cook is hired for an initial, five-year term starting March 1, 2026, at an annual salary of $700,000, a five year deferred compensation plan with annual contributions of $100,000, a monthly housing allowance of $8,000 and a vehicle allowance of $1,500.

Cook said he was "pretty overwhelmed, a little speechless, sincerely," and thanked the board for its hospitality.

"I look forw

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