President Search
Finalist Candidate Information
Candidate Visit for Thursday, March 5
Dr. Lori Suddick
Dr. Lori Suddick has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the College of Lake County in Illinois since 2018. In this role, she leads a multi‑campus community college and is responsible for academic programs, operations, budgeting, labor relations, accreditation, and community and workforce partnerships.
Dr. Suddick’s career in public higher education spans more than two decades, including service as a chief academic officer and instructional leader within the Wisconsin Technical College System. She earned a doctorate in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, with a specialization in Career and Technical Education. She has participated in national leadership development programs for community college presidents.
Candidate Visit for Wednesday, March 4
Dr. Joshua Baker
Dr. Joshua Baker is President of Mountwest Community and Technical College in Huntington, West Virginia, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he oversees institutional operations, academic programs, budgeting, accreditation, and external partnerships at a comprehensive community and technical college serving a regional workforce and transfer mission.
Dr. Baker has held leadership positions in academic affairs and administration at several community and technical colleges, including roles as vice president, campus dean, and faculty member. He earned a doctorate in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University, and has experience serving on numerous boards and councils inside and outside higher education.
Candidate Visit for Tuesday, March 3
Dr. Lisa Armour
Dr. Lisa Armour most recently served as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost of the Maricopa County Community College District in Arizona, where she provided executive oversight for academic and student affairs across ten independently accredited colleges. Her responsibilities included systemwide academic planning, shared governance, and coordination with faculty leadership, governing boards, and external partners.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Armour held senior leadership roles at Santa Fe College
and Valencia College, including Provost and Vice President positions, as well as faculty
leadership roles in mathematics. She earned a doctorate in Industrial Engineering
from the University of Central Florida and has extensive experience in academic administration,
institutional planning, and accreditation within large and mid‑sized community college
environments.
Candidate Visit for Monday, March 2
Dr. Summer DeProw
Dr. Summer L. DeProw is Chancellor of the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College, where she leads a multi‑campus institution offering academic transfer, technical, and workforce programs. As chancellor, she is responsible for institutional strategy, academic and operational leadership, budgeting, accreditation, and partnerships with universities, employers, and public agencies.
Dr. DeProw previously served her institution as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and has held leadership roles focused on accreditation, assessment, and institutional effectiveness. She earned a doctorate in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi and has experience working with faculty, staff, and governing bodies to support academic quality and compliance in higher education.
Finalist Visit Schedules
March 2, 3, 4, & 5, 2026
| Ankeny Campus | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. |
Meet and Greet with DMACC Foundation Board Members and Business Leaders |
| 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. |
Open Forum with DMACC Students |
| 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. |
Open Forum with DMACC Cabinet, Deans, HEA & ESA Leadership, and College Council Leadership |
| 11:30 to 12:45 p.m. |
Lunch and Interview with Executive Committee |
| 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. |
Open Forum with All DMACC Faculty and Staff |
| 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. |
Tour of Ankeny Campus |
| 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. |
Meeting with Interim President Wee |
| Urban Campus | Event |
|---|---|
| 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. |
Tour of Urban Campus |
| 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. |
Dinner with Board of Directors |
| 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. |
Interview with Board of Directors |
Presidential Search Committee
The search committee is committed to ensuring the integrity of the search process and finding the best possible candidate to be DMACC’s next president. The committee will recommend the most qualified and strongest candidates to the Board of Directors, which will ultimately appoint the next president. The search committee will:
- review the candidate pool
- conduct semi-finalist interviews
- recommend candidates to move forward for final, on-campus interviews with students, faculty, staff, and the DMACC Board of Directors
Members of the Presidential Search Committee include:
- Kevin Halterman, President, DMACC Board of Directors
- Felix Gallagher, Vice President, DMACC Board of Directors
- Denny Presnall, Member, DMACC Board of Directors
- Trish Roberts, Member, DMACC Board of Directors
- Jerry Burns, Automotive Technology Program Chair & Professor
- Matt Sprengeler, Academic Advisor
- Nancy Woods, Director of Advanced Student Academics
- Kim Spitzig, Academic Records Specialist
- Jeanie McCarville Kerber, Executive Academic Dean, Health and Public Services
- Erin Lee Schneider, Dean of Student Success and Urban Student Development
- Joel Lundstrom, Executive Dean of Distance Learning
- Tracy Ngo, DMACC Student
- Joe Pugel, Former President and Emeritus Member, DMACC Board of Directors
- Mary Chapman, Vice President Emeritus, DMACC
Des Moines Area Community College President Search Timeline
-
January 16, 2026 - Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply on or before Friday, January 16, 2026.
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January 29, 2026 - Review of applications by the Search Committee.
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February 12, 2026 - Presidential Semi-Finalist Virtual Interviews.
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March 2-5, 2026 - On Campus Interviews.
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TBD - Board of Directors meets to select new President.
Search Consultant
Larry Ebbers, PhD., has spent his career shaping the future of higher education. In addition to a 50-year tenure at Iowa State University, Ebbers is known for founding key programs like the Leader Institute for a New Century (LINC), and the Community College Leadership Initiative Consortium (CLIC), both which have prepared countless community college administrators for leadership roles. His expertise and his dedication has made a significant impact nationwide.
Stay Informed
Throughout the search process, we’ll provide regular updates on our progress and opportunities for engagement. Check this page often for the latest information and key dates.
Together, let’s find a leader who will uphold DMACC’s Mission and Values, and foster an environment where everyone can thrive.
Thank you for being a part of this important process. You’ll help shape the future of our college.
For questions or additional information, please contact:
Dr. Larry Ebbers, Search Consultant
presidentsearch@dmacc.edu
515-290-9854
Update October 31, 2025
The Board of Directors at DMACC announced the appointment of Dr. Liang Chee Wee as Interim President, effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Wee will serve through June 30, 2026, providing experienced leadership while the College continues its comprehensive presidential search. Read more about this announcement.
Presidential Survey Closed
Over 140 people completed the survey sharing their input on the personal and professional characteristics they would like the new President at DMACC to possess and the primary focus areas of the new President for moving the college forward. Thank you for making your voice heard.
Your Voice Matters
We believe that every stakeholder – students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members – has a vital role to play in shaping the future leadership of our college. That’s why we are actively seeking your help in defining the qualities and experience we should look for in our next President. Please let us know your thoughts about the two questions below:
- What personal and professional characteristics should the new President at DMACC possess?
- What should be the primary focus areas of the new President for moving the College forward?
*Survey closed May 27
In Person Forums Closed
Thank you for your participation in the listening forums that took place on May 6 and 7. More than 100 people were able to participate.
In-Person Forums
A series of in-person forums for community stakeholders were held across DMACC campuses on May 6 and 7. Members of our community were welcomed to attend at any campus location that was convenient for them. These forums were separate from the forums scheduled for DMACC faculty and staff. This input will help guide the development of the DMACC Presidential Search Profile.
Virtual Forum
In addition to the in-person sessions, a virtual Teams meeting was held on May 7 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. to provide another opportunity for engagement.