ELISABETH BUCK
Elisabeth Buck was appointed Director of Iowa Workforce Development by Governor Chet Culver in August 2007.

Elisabeth Buck served as deputy chief of staff under Governor Chet Culver since his inauguration in January 2007. From 1999-2006, she served in the same capacity under Governor Tom Vilsack. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Buck supervised a staff of 35 in the Governor’s office and at Terrace Hill, and oversaw an annual budget of $3 million dollars. She also managed and collaborated with 40 departments in Iowa state government.

Prior to working in the office of the Governor, Buck was director of administration for the Iowa Attorney General, where she managed administrative staff and oversaw an annual budget of $4 million. In that position, she created an innovative campaign to recover child support payments from delinquent parents and organized a statewide domestic abuse awareness campaign.

Ms. Buck earned a BA in political science from Iowa State, where she was student body president. Buck was named 2002 Leader of the Year in Iowa State Government and the 2004 Volunteer of the Year. She has volunteered for numerous organizations and was presented with the 2006 AFSCME Leadership award.

Elisabeth is married and has two children.

ROB DENSON
Rob Denson was appointed the 4th President of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) on November 1, 2003. He grew up on a farm near Homestead, Iowa, south of the Amana Colonies and graduated from high school in Marengo, Iowa. He is the first native born Iowan to be President of DMACC.

Rob has a B.S. in Political Science and Economics and a Masters Degree in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University. He worked for Iowa State as an Assistant Dean for 3 years before moving to Florida where he served as an Assistant Dean of Students. He graduated from Law School at the University of Florida in 1979 and was an Associate University Attorney for 3 years before operating his own law practice for 16 years. He is a board certified civil trial lawyer. In 1996, he became Assistant to the President and Dean for Institutional Advancement at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.

In 1998, Rob returned to Iowa as President of Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa where the College saw a 58% enrollment increase during his five year tenure. Rob believes in success, teams and positive thinking.

He and his wife, Pat have 2 children.