Benjamin Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was announced as one of two finalists in the race for Iowa State University’s next president on Nov. 4.
The second finalist was announced to be David Cook, the current president of North Dakota State University, on Nov. 5. Final results are set to be announced on Nov. 11 by the Iowa Board of Regents, following campus visits and a series of interviews by both candidates.
“It's an honor to be considered for the position of president of ISU,” Houlton wrote in an email to the Sun.
Houlton has headed CALS since 2020. He also serves as a co-chair of The 2030 Project, Cornell’s climate initiative to make Cornell carbon neutral by 2030, and he is a professor in the departments of ecology and evolutionary biology and global development.
During his time as dean, Houlton revamped the CALS curriculum and launched The Roadmap to 2050, a plan designed to expand CALS’ impact globally. Houlton’s interdisciplinary research group investigates global problems ranging from food security to carbon capture.
Houlton’s entrance into the race for ISU president follows the current ISU president Wendy Wintersteen’s May announcement of her intent to retire. Wintersteen, who worked in various roles at ISU for over four decades, became the first female president of the university in 2017.
Wintersteen plans to retire in January 2026. Houlton declined to answer when he would leave Cornell if selected, as the process is still ongoing.
Houlton visited ISU on Nov. 5, where he underwent a series of interviews and participated in an open forum, giving a speech and fielding questions from the audience.
“Thank you for this amazing opportunity to be a finalist for ISU’s next president. The word that comes to mind today is amazing — you have an amazing community, an amazing land-grant system and amazing students,” Houlton said during the forum.
In his 45-minute long speech, he outlined his goals for helping ISU progress, emphasizing expanding ISU’s reach and “propelling Iowa on a world stage.” He also discussed his background as a Midwesterner and his roots in agriculture.
Cook, Houlton’s competitor, gave a speech during his open forum the following day.
“It’s a joy for me to be back home,” said Cook, who grew up in the area and graduated from Iowa State. He spoke about better preparing students in an “ever-changing world.”
The Iowa Board of Regents will meet in closed session following the campus visits before announcing the next Iowa State president on Nov. 11.
Kate Turk is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is an assistant news editor for the 143rd Editorial Board. She can be reached at kturk@cornellsun.com.
