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 on April 10th.
As the first native-born Iowan to lead Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Denson’s tenure has been marked by transformative investments in rural education.
Under his leadership, DMACC has expanded academic and technical programs into rural communities, established multiple rural centers, and formed major national partnerships to support workforce development. Denson’s 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.
“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, from 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.”
The Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) 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.
“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.”