UPDATE: North Dakota State University (NDSU) has just announced the hiring of an external firm to aid in the search for its next president, following the upcoming departure of current president David Cook. The NDSU Presidential Search Committee voted unanimously on December 5, 2023, to engage Academic Search based in Washington, D.C., with plans to name a successor by mid-March.
Cook, who has served as NDSU’s president since May 2022, is stepping down to assume the presidency at Iowa State University on March 1, 2024. His annual salary at NDSU was $532,701, while he will earn $700,000 at Iowa State. His final day at NDSU is expected to be sometime in February.
The State Board of Higher Education decided not to appoint an interim president at this time. Board President Kevin Black, who co-chairs the search committee alongside NDSU Chief of Staff Jace Beehler, indicated that it is too early for such a decision. Black emphasized that the search for a new leader is a serious process and that hiring a firm is essential to keep NDSU competitive in attracting top candidates.
The search is set to kick off on December 15 or 16, 2023, when the committee plans to post job advertisements. The timeline for the search is still subject to adjustments as the co-chairs intend to finalize details with Academic Search next week. Black aims to have Cook’s successor on campus by early summer, enabling them to build connections before the fall semester begins.
Applications are tentatively due by January 30, 2024, with the committee expected to narrow down candidates to about ten semifinalists for interviews in mid-February. The finalists could be announced by the end of February, with campus visits and interviews scheduled for the first week of March. A recommendation for the top candidate is anticipated by mid-March, followed by the State Board finalizing the decision shortly after.
This search is crucial not just for NDSU, but also reflects the broader trend of leadership transitions at universities across the nation. The committee’s decision to engage a search firm underscores the importance of finding a qualified leader to steer NDSU through its next chapter.
As the search unfolds, stakeholders are keenly watching the developments. The urgency of this process cannot be overstated—NDSU’s future direction hinges on the timely selection of its next president.
