DMACC Presidential Finalists Visit Ankeny and Des Moines to Pitch Leadership

Four finalists for DMACC's presidency visited Ankeny and Des Moines to meet campus and community leaders, share leadership visions, and discuss student success.

Finalists for the presidency at Iowa’s largest community college visited Ankeny and Des Moines this week to pitch themselves for the leadership role. Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) invited four candidates from across the U.S. for a series of campus visits and community meetings designed to highlight each candidate’s vision for the college’s future.

During the visits, candidates took part in forums, town halls, and smaller meetings with faculty, staff, students, and local business leaders. These events gave the DMACC community an opportunity to evaluate how each finalist would address core issues such as student success, workforce development, enrollment growth, equity, and partnerships with regional employers and K–12 schools.

Campus visits like the ones in Ankeny and Des Moines are central to choosing a community college president because they allow direct interaction between finalists and the people who will be affected by leadership decisions. Attendees asked about strategies for expanding affordable education, supporting career and technical programs, improving student retention, and strengthening community partnerships across central Iowa.

The four finalists presented distinct leadership styles and priorities, emphasizing innovation in online learning, the importance of hands-on workforce training, and a commitment to making higher education more accessible. DMACC’s role as Iowa’s largest community college positions it as a critical engine for regional economic development, which means the next president will need to balance educational quality with responsiveness to local industry needs.

Community feedback gathered during these visits will inform the college’s selection process. Board members, faculty representatives, and community stakeholders will review impressions and input before the next steps are announced. While the selection timeline has not been finalized publicly, the campus visits mark a key phase in the search for a leader who can steer DMACC through changing demographics and evolving workforce demands.

As the process moves forward, Ankeny and Des Moines residents, along with students and staff, will continue to play an active role in shaping the future of Des Moines Area Community College by sharing their perspectives on the qualities they want in the next community college president.

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