NDSU begins search for new president

NDSU officially launched its search for the next president following approval of the presidential position description and search timeline by the Presidential Search Committee.

The committee finalized key documents and set the formal search in motion, opening nominations and applications for the university’s top leadership post. Candidates may begin submitting nominations and applications immediately, with a deadline for full consideration of 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16. Interviews are scheduled throughout March, with finalist campus visits set for March 23–27.

The State Board of Higher Education is expected to select the next permanent president during a special meeting the week of March 30.

The search follows the announcement that NDSU President David Cook will depart in March to become president of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Cook has served as NDSU’s 15th president since May 2022.

“Your continued engagement is essential to this process,” Presidential Search Committee co-chairs Kevin Black and Jace Beehler wrote in a campus message announcing the launch. The group also thanked students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who completed a campus survey to identify the attributes and priorities most important for the university’s next leader. That input directly informed the final position description.

To promote transparency throughout the search, NDSU has created a dedicated presidential search website, which will serve as the central location for updates, key documents and important milestones, where applicants and community members can follow the process.

Since its founding in 1890, NDSU has had 17 individuals serve as president, including acting leaders. The university’s leadership has guided its evolution as a land-grant, research institution serving students, North Dakota and beyond.

The Presidential Search Committee is co-chaired by Beehler, NDSU chief of staff, and Black, chair of the State Board of Higher Education. The full committee includes representatives from across the NDSU campus and broader community, bringing diverse perspectives to the task of identifying and recommending candidates who will uphold the university’s mission and values. The group will work with external consultants to recruit and evaluate candidates before presenting finalists for campus interviews and final selection.

The launch of this search marks a pivotal moment in NDSU’s history as the university prepares for its next chapter of leadership.