The Des Moines Area Community College board of directors has appointed Liang Chee Wee to serve as interim president of the community college when longtime DMACC President Rob Denson steps down at the end of the year.

Wee’s appointment will be effective Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026. The board’s decision to appoint an interim president follows the announcement that two of three finalists had withdrawn their names from contention for the role.

The board will continue its search process in early 2026 with the intention of naming a permanent president to begin in July. 

Wee has experience in leadership roles at several Iowa community colleges. He served as president of Northeast Iowa Community College from 2011 to 2022, where he led a capital campaign totaling $10 million and a $39 million bond levy. He also recently concluded nearly two years of service as interim chancellor of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. He holds a doctorate degree in business administration from the University of Arizona’s Karl Eller Graduate School of Management, along with an MBA and bachelor’s degree in management information systems, also both from the University of Arizona.

“We are exceptionally fortunate to have a leader of Dr. Wee’s caliber and experience guide DMACC during this interim period,” Kevin Halterman, president of the DMACC board of directors and chair of the presidential search committee, said in a news release. “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.”

More information about the search process is available at president.dmacc.edu.