DMACC Breaks Ground on New Dental College Facility,
Celebrates 50 Years of Dental Program
Written by Mackenzie Cowden – Director of Marketing at the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce
On Friday, October 3rd, 2025, the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) officially broke ground on a new Dental College building. This project will expand the college’s health sciences offerings and increase access to dental care across Iowa. The ceremony also marked the 50th anniversary of DMACC’s dental program.
President Rob Denson opened with a reminder of DMACC’s broad mission and reach. “Our ongoing mission here at DMACC is to be among the national leaders in education. We offer over 220 degrees, certificates, and diplomas. We have about 36,000 credit students and 20,000 non-credit students every year. But the most exciting number to me is that our average class size is 18.”
DMACC President Rob Denson stated that the new facility addresses a pressing need for the workforce. “Iowa, like many places, is facing a shortage of dental hygienists and dental assisting professionals. Jobs are going unfilled. Many Iowans struggle to find dental care,” he said. “What has been missing is a facility that matched our students’ quality, readiness, and excitement.”
“This building allows us to increase our program capacity in dental hygiene by 25 percent while reserving small class sizes and student-centered ratios,” Denson said.
The college currently trains students in an 8,000-square-foot space. The new facility will expand to 29,500 square feet of purpose-built classrooms, labs, and clinics. Features include simulation labs, collaborative classrooms, radiological suites, sterilization areas, student wellness spaces, and natural lighting. The design also incorporates a public dental clinic, which will increase access to care while providing students with real-world training opportunities. The project is expected to be completed in January 2027.
The $250,000 lead gift from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation provided a significant boost. Suzanne Heckenlaible, Executive Director of the Foundation, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to serving Iowans. “We are proud to support DMACC as they embark on an innovative approach to addressing community health needs through their dental programs and preparing the next generation of the dental workforce,” she said.
DMACC faculty and administrators also highlighted the program’s legacy. Jeanice McCarville Kerber, Executive Academic Dean of Health Sciences and Public Services, stated that the existing clinic has served generations of students and patients but has long outgrown its current space. “Our clinic has been a place of learning, healing, and connection,” she said. “Thousands of Iowans have received compassion and care, often when they needed it most.” She continued stating, “We’re building the future, one that rises to meet the needs of today and prepares us for the challenges of tomorrow’s Workforce.”
The new facility, Kerber added, will allow DMACC to meet statewide demand for dental care. “We are reaffirming our commitment to educating the next generation of dental hygienists and assistants with the highest standards and the most advanced tools.”
Johanna Land, Dental Clinic and Programs Coordinator, spoke as both an alumna and a program leader. “I’ve watched students walk in with dreams and walk out with purpose,” she said. “Now with these state-of-the-art facilities, we’ve given them tools, the technology, and the environment to thrive like never before.”
The project also underscores the strong ties between DMACC and community partners. Faculty, staff, and alums have kept the program running despite space and equipment limitations, Denson said, and their input helped shape the design of the new building.
“This project is not only about classrooms or clinics,” Denson said. “It is about meeting urgent workforce needs, expanding access to care, and preparing Iowa for the future.”
The groundbreaking was capped off with a celebration of the dental program’s 50th anniversary, honoring five decades of graduates who now comprise a significant portion of the state’s dental workforce.
DMACC is a community partner of the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce and has been a chamber member since 1976. We commend & celebrate their commitment to community & education.