ANKENY, Iowa—DMACC, the largest undergraduate college in Iowa, has named Dr. Jennifer Foster as Academic Dean, Industry & Technology. In her new role, Dr. Foster will serve as the district-wide chief administrative officer of departments and programs within the academic division of Industry & Technology beginning July 1.
Dr. Foster has served as Associate Dean, Industry & Technology, at DMACC since 2013. She first joined DMACC as the College’s Director of Program Development in 2010. She succeeds Scott Ocken, who was promoted to VP of Academic Affairs at DMACC last year.
“I’m honored to serve in this important role at DMACC, especially as we continue to see and encourage more women who are pursuing careers in industry and technology,” Dr. Foster said. “The faculty and staff at DMACC are deeply invested in the success of every student, and I’m proud to be part of a leadership team that is focused on growth, innovation and strategic industry partnerships to help meet workforce needs.”
DMACC offers a robust list of programs within Industry & Technology, including:
· Applied Engineering Technology – Wind Turbine Technologies
· Automotive Technology
· Cybersecurity
· Diesel Technology
· Robotics & Control Systems Engineering
· Tool & Die
· Video Production
· Water Environmental Technology
· Welding
· And more
As Academic Dean, Dr. Foster will coordinate the district-wide development, implementation and evaluation of Industry & Technology programs and curriculum. She will also oversee departmental budgeting while providing leadership and support in the areas of fundraising, educational and collaborative partnerships, facility operation, accreditation and more.
“I’ve worked with Dr. Foster for years, and I’ve seen her accomplishments,” Ocken said. “I believe her vision, experience and leadership skills will continue to make our industry and technology programs among the best in the nation.”
Prior to joining DMACC, Foster worked as an Education Consultant for the State of Iowa and served in a variety of roles at the former AIB College of Business, including Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Assistant Academic Dean for Assessment, Accountability and Business Administration Chair, and faculty member. Earlier in her career, she taught business education classes in the Des Moines Public School system and worked as a staff accountant at Premier Capital Group in Des Moines.
Foster is a graduate of William Penn College (B.A., Business Management), Drake University (M.A. Teaching, Business Education) and Iowa State University (Ph.D., Philosophy – Education Leadership in Policy Studies).
About DMACC
Des Moines Area Community College, a public institution serving the educational and career training needs of Iowans, is committed to the lifelong success of its students. Situated in one of America’s most vibrant regions, DMACC offers 200 programs, certificates and transfer degrees, annually serving more than 70,000 credit and noncredit students on six campuses and six learning centers. Thanks to college-wide innovation including Continuous Process Improvement (CPI), new programs and affordable tuition, DMACC continues to experience solid growth. For more information, please visit www.dmacc.edu.
(contributed article and photo, DMACC)
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