Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen speaks during the naming ceremony for Patterson Hall at the Iowa State Veterinary Medician Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
The following is a press release from Iowa State University:
Ames, Iowa – In a message sent today to the campus community, Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen announced her plans to retire in January 2026. Wintersteen became the first woman and second ISU alum to hold the university’s highest office when she was named the 16th president of Iowa State in 2017.
“I am fortunate to have served Iowa State University in many roles over the past 46 years, and it’s been a fascinating journey,” Wintersteen said. “I am truly proud of Iowa State’s extraordinary faculty and staff for their remarkable performance these past years. Perhaps most of all, I will miss the amazing energy, talent and potential of our Iowa State students.”
President Wintersteen’s tenure has been marked by new and renovated facilities across campus, record research grants and awards for innovation, significant improvements in student outcomes, a vast increase in the ISU Research Park and strong fundraising success.
Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates said, “Under President Wintersteen’s leadership, Iowa State’s reputation has soared, particularly in research growth, student outcomes and an emphasis on innovation. With her steady guidance, Iowa State has met and overcome many external challenges, including a derecho, an international pandemic and more. The state of Iowa has been blessed to have an accomplished leader like Wendy Wintersteen leading this great land-grant university.”
Innovate at Iowa State
During Wintersteen’s tenure as president, Iowa State has earned global recognition as a leader for innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education. Notable accolades and rankings include:
- 2023 Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Americas,
- 2024 Model University Accelerator/Incubator award from the U.S Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship,
- 2022 NASDAQ Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, the highest honor from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers,
- Top 100 universities worldwide for U.S. patents – tied for 57th with 60 patents in 2024.
As president, Wintersteen has advanced support for Iowa State’s cutting-edge research. Iowa State ranks in the top 3% for research out of nearly 500 universities without a human medical school. Over the past eight years, the university received more than $4.2 billion in external funding, including three consecutive years of record-setting research funding.
Improved student outcomes
Under President Wintersteen’s leadership, Iowa State has achieved many records for student outcomes. The university’s first-year student retention rate has climbed to 87.6%, which is 10.5 points higher than the national average for four-year public institutions.
ISU students are graduating faster than ever before. The average time to degree has decreased from 4.4 years in 2018 to a historic low of 4.12 years in 2024. Additionally, Iowa State’s six-year graduation rate outperforms the national average of four-year public institutions by more than 18 points.
During her presidency, 57,698 students graduated from Iowa State prepared for the workforce. Nearly 75% of Iowa State’s undergraduates complete two or more high-impact practices such as learning communities, faculty-student research projects, internships or study abroad. Since 2018, Iowa State has maintained an exceptionally strong placement rate of 95%.
More than 44% of Iowa State students graduate without debt, and the percentage of students who take loans has decreased from 59% in fiscal year 2019 to 55.6% in fiscal year 2023.
In recent years, nearly 75% of undergraduate students received donor-funded scholarships and grants. To eliminate financial barriers for student seniors from completing their degree due to financial problems, 1,938 students received donor-funded completion grants to help them earn their degree and join the workforce.
Historic fundraising success
During President Wintersteen’s first four years, the Iowa State University Foundation exceeded its initial fundraising goal of $1.1 billion and achieved a historic $1.542 billion fundraising total for the Forever True, For Iowa State campaign. More than 96,000 alumni, donors and friends made gifts and commitments to the university.
The record-breaking total included $500 million directed for student support, including 56,000 donor-funded scholarships awarded. The campaign created 148 named faculty positions, which provide faculty with resources to invest in teaching programs, research and other strategic priorities.
President Wintersteen worked with Iowa State alumni and friends to secure more than $275 million for new or revitalized facilities such as the following:
- ISU’s world-class Student Innovation Center,
- Gerdin Building Expansion for the Ivy College of Business,
- Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building, a facility made possible by the largest single gift for an academic building in Iowa State history,
- LeBaron Hall rebuild and McKay Hall renovation project, work began in April 2024 with support from numerous private donors,
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, phase 1 completed and phase 2 ($66.5 million) underway with support from the state of Iowa,
- Richard and Joan Stark Performance Center,
- Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex,
- Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm,
- Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility.
Notably, the Iowa State University’s Research Park also experienced significant growth during this time with a 150-acre expansion and nearly 50 new tenants.
President Wintersteen worked with Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard to receive approval from the Iowa Board of Regents for the CyTown development, a multipurpose project to enhance the Iowa State Center.
“President Wintersteen has worked tirelessly to advance the mission of the university,” said Charles Sukup, chairman of Sukup Manufacturing and Iowa State alum. “Her efforts to generate support for new facilities, teaching and research will benefit students and the state of Iowa for years to come. She has been an outstanding servant leader who has earned the trust of faculty, students and the citizens of Iowa.”
A career rooted in extension and outreach
Wintersteen began her career at Iowa State as an extension field specialist in integrated pest management. After completing her doctorate in entomology, she rose through the ranks to become a professor and held several leadership roles.
Prior to becoming president, Wintersteen served eleven years as the inaugural endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. Under her leadership, Iowa State’s agricultural programs ranked in the top 10 worldwide, CALS became the third-largest college of agriculture in the nation, research grants increased markedly, awards for teaching excellence grew and the college achieved a 98% placement rate for its graduates.
Wintersteen has received many honors and awards for her leadership and service, including:
- Named the 2024 EO Iowa innovationENTREPRENEUR of the Year by the Des Moines Business Record,
- Voted one of the Top 25 Most Influential Business Leaders by readers of the Des Moines Business Record in 2024 and 2025,
- Inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in 2021,
- Received the 2020 Food Systems Leadership Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities,
- Honored with the 2020 National Ruby Award, the most prestigious recognition given by Epsilon Sigma Phi, the national honor society for extension professionals,
- Named a Woman of Influence from the Des Moines Business Record in 2018.
The president also serves on several national and state boards and committees to advance innovation, research and higher education. This includes the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Council of Presidents and Research Intensive Committee, the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors and Big 12 Conference Board of Directors Executive Committee (Secretary/Treasurer 2023-2025), America’s Cultivation Corridor, and the World Food Prize Foundation Board of Directors.
Wintersteen and spouse Robert Waggoner together host nearly 100 events each year at The Knoll, the president’s residence on campus. They have been married 41 years.
A complete list and additional biographical information are available on the president’s website.
