Board of Regents President Rober Cramer presided over the installation ceremony of Iowa State University President David Cook. (ISU photo)
Iowa State University celebrated the installation of David Cook today as the new president of the Ames school.
Board of Regents president Robert Cramer presided over the ceremony. “By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the Iowa Board of Regents, it is with great pride and pleasure that I install you as the 17th President of Iowa State University of Science and Technology,” he says.
ISU President David Cook speaks at his installation ceremony. (ISU photo)
The official part of the installation concluded with Lieutenant Governor Chris Connoyeur helping Cramer put a symbolic chain around Cook’s neck.”I hereby vest in you the powers and obligations attended to your office, which is symbolized by the university’s presidential chain of office,” Cramer says.
Cook then spoke .”I’m humbled and profoundly grateful to be the 17th president of Iowa State University. And honestly, even when I say it, I get goosebumps all over again. So not quite sure what to think of this moment in so many different ways. But I will tell you, this moment is very special for my family and me,” Cook says.
Cook is an Ames native and an ISU graduate who was selected by the Board of Regents in November of last year, had been the president of North Dakota State University since 2022. “Iowa State opened doors and provided opportunities that I truly never thought were possible. As president, my commitment and I plan to look forward to paying those gifts and those opportunities forward to each and every one of you,” he says.
The ceremony included videos from various groups on campus congratulating Cook, and a video that detail the history of the first Land Grant University. Cook says Iowa State is well positioned to continue its proud history. “While today is a presidential installation, it’s really a celebration of our past. It’s a celebration of our present, and it’s a celebration of our future. Even more, it’s a celebration of all of you, the people who make Iowa State University extraordinary. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he says.
Cook also announced what he calls his moon shot goal for the university. “By 2032, we will elevate Iowa State to become a top 20 public land grant university with an annual economic impact of $8 billion,” he says. Cook says achieving the moon shot requires four priorities. Priority one is investing in the future with the goal of generating $200 million in net new annual revenue. He says a second priority is to grow the student population to 34,000, driven by providing an affordable education that changes lives.
The third priority is to fuel that state’s growth including growing the economic impact of ISU graduates by $900 million by 2032. Cook says the fourth priority is pioneering innovation for Iowa and the nation. He says they aim to become a top 10 non-medical university by growing annual research expenditures to $750 million.