ANKENY, Iowa—Jenifer Owenson has been hired as DMACC’s new Executive Director of Human Resources. She most recently was the Chief Human Resources and Legal Affairs Officer for Ankeny Community Schools.

She has developed expertise in the areas of recruitment, employee and labor relations, human resource policy, talent management, human capital development, workforce strategy planning and evaluation/performance management.

Owenson has been a Black Hawk County Attorney, a State of Iowa Grievance and Arbitration Specialist, Director of Personnel Services for the Iowa Association of School Boards, a consultant for Iowa Schools, the HR Director at the Heartland Area Education Association and Director of Labor Relations for MidAmerican Energy.

Owenson has also worked as an adjunct professor at Drake University and Iowa State University.

She hails from a family of educators.

“My parents understood that education was the great equalizer and have instilled that belief in my value system,” said Owenson.

Her twin sister, Dr. Julia Simanski, has been a professor at DMACC for several years.

Owenson earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her JD from the University of Iowa.

Jenifer Owenson and her husband, Chris, live in Des Moines and have two grown children. She is an avid golfer and antique collector; and enjoys reading, writing, dabbling in photography and visiting National Parks.

Jenifer Owenson, DMACC’s new Executive Director of Human Resources

(contributed article and photo, DMACC)