DMACC Urban Campus Celebrates Its Founders During Community Night Event

Mascots from the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Wild and Iowa Wolves join the DMACC Bear and University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Panther mascots to celebrate the DMACC Urban Campus and the UNI@DMACC partnership during a free Community Night event held July 17, 2024, at the DMACC Urban Campus in downtown Des Moines. Pictured above are (left to right) Abby Zegers, DMACC Urban Campus Executive Dean; Cubbie Bear, Iowa Cubs mascot; Crash, Iowa Wild mascot; Alpha, Iowa Wolves mascot; Mark Nook, University of Northern Iowa (UNI) President; TK and TC, UNI Panther mascots; Rob Denson, DMACC President; and the DMACC Bears mascot.

A colorful sign (above) in front of the Student Life & STEM Center (Bldg. 7) welcomes attendees to a special Community Night event on July 17 at the DMACC Urban Campus​in downtown Des Moines. Members of the public were invited to join DMACC administrators, board members and community partners to celebrate the past, present and future of the DMACC Urban Campus. The three-hour event was free to attend and featured a variety of games and giveaways, complimentary food and refreshments, campus tours and program information, and the planting of a new "Founder's Tree" on campus.

Lee Ann Davis (above), Coordinator of Student Engagement at the DMACC Urban Campus, serves freshly popped popcorn with a smile during Community Night at the DMACC Urban Campus.

The DMACC Urban Campus' vibrant history (above) is showcased during Community Night at the downtown campus, which first held classes in the early 1970s at the old Sabin Elementary School at 5th and College in Des Moines. At the time, some at DMACC didn't want to have a location in Des Moines, but many in the community stood up for the Urban Campus. The chant from supporters and students was "keep education downtown!" Those voices were heard and in the summer of 1979 construction began on a new 30,000-square-foot Urban Campus.

Rob Denson (above, left), President of DMACC, and Dr. Mary Chapman (above, right), DMACC Vice President Emeritus and DMACC Foundation board member, take a photo together during the July 17 Community Night event at the DMACC Urban Campus in Des Moines. Dr. Chapman joined DMACC in 1990 as the Executive Dean and Provost of the Urban Campus. Under her leadership, the campus reached record enrollment levels and created new academic programs in business and information technology.

Dornubari Godpower of Des Moines (above, right), a rising senior at Des Moines North High School, displays a new DMACC Bears t-shirt she received while meeting with Tara Gallardo (above, left), a DMACC College & Career Transition Counselor (CCTC) in Des Moines Public Schools, during Community Night at the Urban Campus. Godpower said she decided to attend the Community Night event to learn more about DMACC and opportunities for her future.

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) President Mark Nook (above, left) and DMACC President Rob Denson (above, right) shake hands while taking a photo outside of the new Student Life & STEM Center (Bldg. 7) at the DMACC Urban Campus. The historic UNI@DMACC partnership​, which launched in the fall of 2020, provides students with the opportunity to complete their first two years​ of college at DMACC and then continue on and earn a four-year degree online from UNI without leaving Des Moines.​

The UNI@DMACC partnership office in located in Bldg. 7 at the DMACC Urban Campus.

The DMACC Bear (above, center) hangs out with some great friends from UNI, TK the Panther (above, left) and TC the Panther (above, right), on July 17 during Community Night at the DMACC Urban Campus in downtown Des Moines.

University of Northern Iowa alumni Kay Smith (above, left) and Maryann Rosonke (above, right), both of West Des Moines, serve free pizza during Community Night at the DMACC Urban Campus. Smith taught court reporting and secretarial courses at the former AIB College of Business for 40 years, while Rosonke worked as a elementary school teacher in both Iowa and Illinois after graduating from UNI. Both women said they enjoy volunteering at events with their alma mater and were excited when UNI and DMACC joined forces to launch the UNI@DMACC partnership in their home community.

DMACC President Rob Denson (above) welcomes attendees to Community Night at the College's Urban Campus and shares DMACC's on-going mission to offer students countless opportunities to excel in both the classroom and in life.​

Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad (above), Iowa State Representative for District 34, talks about the impact and importance of the DMACC Urban Campus during the Community Night event. Abdul-Samad is one of the founders and early advocates of the Urban Campus.

An outside digital board on the new Student Life & STEM Center (Bldg. 7) at the DMACC Urban Campus displays a thank-you message and the names of founding supporters during the Community Night event.

DMACC Urban Campus Community Night participants (above, left to right) Mark Nook, University of Northern Iowa (UNI) President; Abby Zegers, DMACC Urban Campus Executive Dean; Dr. Mary Chapman, DMACC Vice President Emeritus, DMACC Foundation board member and past DMACC Urban Campus Executive Dean and Provost; Rob Denson, DMACC President; and Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, one of the founders and early advocates of the Urban Campus, prepare to plan a new "Founder's Tree" in honor of the community supporters and leaders who have made the DMACC Urban Campus possible. An American Dream® Oak Tree was selected for the planting ceremony in recognition of all that can be achieved through education and community.​

Contact: Abby Zegers, DMACC Urban Campus Executive Dean, [email protected]

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