President, Iowa State University

Dr. Wendy Wintersteen became the 16th president of Iowa State University in 2017, following a nationwide search and unanimous vote of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. She is the first woman president in Iowa State history. And she’s only the second ISU graduate to hold the university’s highest office.

Dr. Wintersteen has served Iowa State for 40 years in several capacities, including as one of the first female ISU Extension associates in integrated pest management. She served 11 years as dean of the internationally recognized College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, and she held the university’s first endowed deanship.

She earned a bachelor’s of science degree in crop production from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in entomology from Iowa State.

As president, and with the support of her administrative team, Dr. Wintersteen is advancing Iowa State University with priorities focused on enhancing student success; recruiting and retaining excellent faculty and staff; strengthening innovation and research excellence; developing a culture of entrepreneurship; making Iowa State a leader in creating a welcoming and inclusive campus environment; and growing state and private support for the university, its faculty, staff, and students.

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