About President David Cook

Dr. David Cook became the 15th president of North Dakota State University in May 2022. From the start, his servant leadership approach has focused on strengthening enrollment and student success, advancing NDSU’s R1 research status, and championing the university’s land-grant mission.

Under his leadership, NDSU has stabilized enrollment after years of decline, increased retention rates, and celebrated a 12% increase in graduates this past spring. The university continues to break records in research expenditures, reinforcing its position among the nation’s top 100 public research institutions. Cook has also strengthened fundraising and legislative partnerships, advancing strategic initiatives that support students and meet the workforce needs of North Dakota.

Cook is actively involved in the community and serves on a wide range of boards that connect NDSU to the region’s economic development, health care, and agricultural leadership, including the Ag Products Utilization Commission, Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber, Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp., Red River Valley Fair, Research and Technology Park, Research Foundation, Sanford Medical Center Fargo, State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, and the NDSU Foundation Executive Governing Board (ex-officio).

Prior to joining NDSU, Cook held 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. He also spent 14 years at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he earned tenure and served on the leadership cabinet. His academic journey includes dissertation research conducted in Shanghai and an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He and his wife, Kate, have three children—Gage, Ella, and Peyton—and two dogs, Motley and Lola.