How DMACC President Rob Denson starts his mornings

By the numbers: DMACC's fall 2023 term enrollment is up 5% over fall 2019 with 34,206 students last semester, according to the Iowa Department of Education.

• In 2003, there were 21,913 DMACC students.

The intrigue: The biggest thing that's changed for him in the last two decades is the use of technology and specifically, Zoom.

• "I drive thousands of miles less now than I did pre-pandemic," Denson says.

Here's how the DMACC president starts his day:

⏰ Wake up: He sets his alarm for 4:30am, but 99% of the time, he naturally wakes up at 4:20am. "I don't want to wake my wife."

🍳 Breakfast: A handful of mixed nuts, a glass of water and a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar while he waits for his coffee to brew.

• Denson drinks about eight to 10 cups of black Folger's per day.

📚 What he's reading: Around 50-60 emails for work and 15 different local and national news publications every morning.

💡 💡 The best advice Denson's received:

1. Be present to win: Network and get out and meet people at events.
2. It's not about you: "It's about the communities."
3. The secret of life is hard work: "There are plenty of opportunities right now. We just need to make sure that we're taking advantage of it and spending the time making it better."