David Cook is the 15th president of North Dakota State University. Joining NDSU in May 2022, his leadership focuses on the university’s strategies to enhance enrollment and invest in student retention and success, prioritize NDSU’s R-1 Carnegie classification status for research, invest in the well-being of the NDSU community, strengthen a culture of diversity, inclusion and respect, and embrace NDSU’s critical role as a land-grant university.

He currently serves on the board of directors for the following organizations: 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, as well as the NDSU Foundation Executive Governing Board (ex-officio).

Prior to NDSU, Cook held executive leadership roles of vice chancellor for the Office of Public Affairs and Economic Development at the University of Kansas, and the vice chancellor of the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas. Cook also spent 14 years at the University of Kansas Medical Center where he earned tenure and served as a member of the leadership cabinet.

He and his wife, Kate, have three children – Gage, Ella and Peyton. They have two dogs, a goldendoodle named Motley and a sheepadoodle named Lola.