DMACC Board Appoints Dr. Liang Chee Wee as Interim President

The Board of Directors at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) announced today 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.

Dr. Wee brings extensive community college leadership experience to DMACC, having served as President of Northeast Iowa Community College from 2011 to 2022. He also recently concluded nearly two years of service as Interim Chancellor of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. His distinguished career includes significant experience in strategic planning, workforce development, student support, legislative engagement, organizational culture, and community partnerships.

"We are exceptionally fortunate to have a leader of Dr. Wee's caliber and experience guide DMACC during this interim period," said Kevin Halterman, president of the DMACC Board of Directors and chair of the presidential search committee. "His proven track record in community college leadership, his deep understanding of Iowa's educational landscape, and his commitment to student success make him ideally suited for this role. DMACC will be in excellent hands as we conduct a thorough search for our next permanent president."

During his tenure at Northeast Iowa Community College, Dr. Wee led a successful capital campaign totaling $10 millionand a $39 million bond levy. He earned recognition as Iowa's Outstanding Chief Administrator by the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees in 2013, was named the Chairman's Institutional Leadership Award recipient by the International Economic Development Council in 2016, and received the Crescent Community Health Center Advocacy Award in 2022. Most recently, in 2025, he received the Larry Ebbers Honorary Trustee Award from Community Colleges for Iowa and was honored as an Honorary Lifetime Leadership Iowa Alumni Society Member by the Association of Business and Industry.

Dr. Wee holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona's Karl Eller Graduate School of Management, along with an MBA and undergraduate degree with distinction in Management Information Systems from the same institution.

"DMACC is a remarkable institution with outstanding students, faculty, and staff," said Dr. Wee. "I am honored to serve in this interim capacity and look forward to supporting the College's impactful mission of providing accessible, affordable, and outstanding educational experiences while working alongside the talented DMACC community."

Dr. Wee will begin his service at DMACC on January 1, 2026, following President Rob Denson's retirement at the end of 2025. The Board of Directors will continue its search process in early 2026 with the intention of naming a permanent presidentto begin in July. More information about the search process is available at president.dmacc.edu.

For more information, contact:

Kevin Halterman, President

DMACC Board of Directors

[email protected]