AMES, Iowa — DMACC President Rob Denson, a native Iowan and longtime advocate for accessible education, was named the recipient of the Rand Fisher Rural Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award during the Rural Iowa Summit, hosted in Ames April 10 by the Iowa Rural Development Council.
As the Denson, who announced in January his anticipated retirement at the end of the year, is the first native-born Iowan to lead Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). His 22-year tenure has been marked by transformative investments in rural education.
“Rob Denson has been a tireless champion for rural Iowa, ensuring that students in small towns have access to the same high-quality education and opportunities as those in urban areas,” said Bruce Nuzum of the Iowa Area Development Group, who presented Denson with the award. “Through his visionary leadership at DMACC, he helped bring life-changing resources to communities across the state — proving that geography should never be a barrier to success.”
Under Denson’s leadership, DMACC has expanded academic and technical programs into rural communities, established multiple rural centers and formed major national partnerships to support workforce development, Nuzum said. His efforts have significantly strengthened small towns across the state, leaving a legacy that will continue long after his upcoming retirement at the end of 2025.
Denson was visibly moved in accepting the award.
“Having been born and raised on a farm in Iowa Township of Iowa County and working with and in small communities throughout the DMACC District as they face economic development and population challenges, I am very proud of our membership in IRDC,” Denson said. “And to receive this honor named for Rand Fisher, a good friend and mentor, is very gratifying. My heartfelt thank you to everyone involved.”
The Iowa Rural Development Council is a collaborative public-private partnership dedicated to advancing rural Iowa by uniting stakeholders — including government agencies, educational institutions, utilities, nonprofits and businesses — to address key issues such as housing, broadband access, workforce development and entrepreneurship.
