Peter Cownie

Former state legislator Peter Cownie brings his extensive experience, including in areas such as workforce development, community engagement and civic leadership, to the Board of Regents.

Cownie has served as Executive Director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation since 2013. The Blue Ribbon Foundation’s mission is to preserve and improve the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds.

He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2008-2018 representing House Districts 60 and 42 in Polk and Warren Counties. Cownie served as Chairman of the House Commerce, State Government and Ways and Means Committees during his service to Iowa.

He serves on the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines Board of Directors, the Dowling Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and the Board of Directors Bankers Trust Company. He and his wife Mary currently serve as the Co-Chairs of the Dowling Catholic High School Capital Campaign. He has served his community as a Director and Chair of the West Des Moines Community Enrichment Foundation, Meals from the Heartland Board of Directors, Dowling Catholic High School Foundation Board, Director First Tee of Central Iowa, Board of Trustees Grand View University, West Des Moines Human Services Board, the University of Virginia Excellence in Economics Campaign Committee, Vice-Chair of the Iowa Historical Building Task Force, and past President of the Wakonda Club Board of Directors. Cownie is a founding member of The Royal Aberdeen Society and hosts a charity golf tournament held annually at the University of Virginia.

He has received recognition as the 2012 Best Elected Official of the Year by CityView, 2015 Legislator of the Year by the Iowa Restaurant Association, the 2014-15 “Spirit of Community Champion” by the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau, the 2016 Des Moines Business Record’s “40 Under 40” award, 2019 “40 Under 40” Most Influential Member Class of 2016, the 2016 Iowa Ducks Unlimited Public Policy Award, the 2018 Professional Developers of Iowa Legislator of the Year Leadership Award, the 2018 National Federation of Independent Business “Guardian” Award, and is a member of the Dowling Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Cownie graduated from Dowling High School in 1999 and the University of Virginia in 2003, receiving his bachelor’s degree in American government, while also being a multiple year letter winner on the men’s varsity tennis team. He received his master’s in public administration with emphasis in public policy from Drake University with Honors in 2008. He is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and is married to his high school sweetheart, Mary. Mary and Peter have three sons.

He was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Reynolds on December 19, 2025 to fill the unexpired term of David Barker. His term expires April 30, 2031.