Mark Nook

Mark A. Nook
11th president of the University of Northern Iowa
Incumbent
Assumed office February 1, 2017 (2017-02-01)
Preceded by	William Ruud
3rd Chancellor of Montana State University Billings
In office 2014–2017
Preceded by	Rolf Groseth
Succeeded by	Ronald Larsen (interim) Dan Edelman
Personal details
Born	Estherville, Iowa, U.S.
Spouse	Cheryl Nook
Residence(s)	Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.
Education	Southwest Minnesota State University (BA) Iowa State University (MS) University of Wisconsin–Madison (PhD)
Website	https://president.uni.edu
Scientific career
Fields	astronomy
Institutions	St. Cloud State University University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Montana State University Billings University of Northern Iowa
Thesis	The envelopes of RV Tauri variables (1990)
Doctoral advisor	Kenneth H. Nordsieck

Mark A. Nook is the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to this, he was the chancellor of Montana State University Billings.

Education

Mark Nook was born in Estherville, Iowa and graduated from Holstein Community School in Holstein, Iowa. He holds a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics from Southwest Minnesota State University, a master's degree in astrophysics from Iowa State University, and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Career

Nook began teaching physics and astronomy at Concordia College in 1983, where he was an instructor until 1986. Following this, he worked on the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment until 1990. In 1990, Nook accepted a position as assistant professor of physics and astronomy and director of the university's observatory and planetarium at St. Cloud State University, eventually becoming a full professor in 1998. He served in this position until 2007. He served as the chair of the department of physics, astronomy, and engineering science from 1999 to 2004. He additionally served as the dean of undergraduate studies from 2004 to 2007. From 2007 to 2009, and again from 2010 to 2011, he served as the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, serving as the interim chancellor 2009 to 2010. Nook served as the senior vice president for academic and student affairs for the University of Wisconsin System from 2011 to 2014. In 2014 Nook was appointed the chancellor of Montana State University Billings, serving in that role until January 2017. He currently serves as the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa. He was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa at the University of Northern Iowa as a faculty/staff initiate in 2017. He was appointed to the board of directors for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in 2023 and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in 2022.