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President
President Branstad
Former Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad became the 14th president in the University's 106-year history in August 2003, succeeding former President Richard M. Ryan Jr., D.Sc., who retired from his position effective Dec. 31, 2002.
Governor Branstad served four consecutive terms as governor of Iowa, from 1983-1999. When elected, he was the youngest governor in Iowa history; and, when he left office, he was Iowa's longest-serving governor.
On the national level, Branstad served as chairman of the National Governors Association in 1989. In 1997 he was chairman of the Republican Governors Association and the Governors Ethanol Coalition. From 1997-1998 he was chairman of the Education Commission of the United States.
After leaving the governor's office in 1999, Branstad established Branstad and Associates, L.C., located in West Des Moines, and became a partner in the firm of Kaufman, Patee, Branstad & Miller, a public policy firm based in Washington, D.C., with offices in West Des Moines, Denver, Boston, and Las Vegas. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Iowa for three semesters and taught a course titled "Leadership and Management in the Public Sector" through the Henry Tippie College of Business.
I am enthused about the opportunity to lead Des Moines University. This health care educational institution is a gem in the heart of Iowa. I look forward to building on the legacy of strength and stability that Dr. Ryan left. Branstad said.
More recently Branstad was appointed by President George W. Bush to chair the President's Commission for Excellence in Special Education. The commission was charged with developing a plan to improve the educational performance of students with disabilities. After completing his work with the commission in 2003, Branstad was asked to serve as a member of the National Advisory Council for Positive Action for Teen Health, or PATH. The advisory council encourages action toward detecting adolescent mental illness.
In April 2003 Branstad was named to serve as a public member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which comprises both professional and public members who address such issues as student recruitment and professional ethics for CPAs.
Branstad serves on the boards of Iowa Health System, Cementech, Featherlite, Liberty Bank, Living History Farms and Advanced Analytical Technologies, Inc. He was also a board member at Des Moines University at the time of his appointment.
Before his terms as governor, Branstad served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1973-1979 and was Lieutenant Governor from 1979-1983. He served in the Army from 1969-1971.
A native of Leland, Iowa, Branstad earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1969 and a law degree from Drake University in Des Moines in 1974. He was a partner in general law practice in Lake Mills, Iowa, from 1974 through 1982.
Branstad and his wife, Chris, have three grown children: Eric, Allison and Marcus.
