Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has appointed Eric Roesler, PhD, MBA, as chief human resources officer after a nationwide search.
Roesler — pronounced RAYZ-ler — brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in human resources, organizational development and compliance across higher education, health services and complex, multi-site organizations. He most recently served as associate vice chancellor and chief human resources officer at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, where he led comprehensive human resources strategy and operations supporting academic, clinical, research and administrative units. He also served on the chancellor’s cabinet.
At DMU, Roesler will provide executive leadership for human resources, including talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, employee relations and leadership development.
DMU President and CEO Angela L. Walker Franklin, PhD, says Roesler’s leadership will support DMU’s continued growth and workforce needs.
“Dr. Roesler brings a broad operational perspective to people strategy and change management,” she says. “He has extensive expertise in human resources leadership, and he’s known for his ability to build consensus and lead meaningful change. We are thrilled to welcome him to the DMU team and confident that his leadership will strengthen support for our faculty and staff as we continue to move the university forward.”
Drawn to DMU’s mission and momentum, Roesler says the university’s focus on people and purpose aligns closely with his leadership philosophy.
“DMU’s mission to improve lives by educating compassionate, highly competent health professionals is authentic,” he says. “The university is actively shaping the future of health professions education. Human resources can play a critical role in building the culture, systems and supports that allow faculty and staff — and ultimately students — to thrive.”
During his tenure at UW-Stevens Point and across the University of Wisconsin, Roesler played a leadership role in large-scale, system-wide initiatives, including a comprehensive redesign of compensation and job structure as well as the development and deployment of a new enterprise resource planning system across all of UW’s 13 universities. His career also includes executive leadership roles in engineering, manufacturing and consulting organizations.
Roesler is recognized for his ability to support organizations through change, helping teams navigate transitions with transparency, trust and shared ownership. As he begins his work at DMU, Roesler’s initial focus will be on listening, learning and building trust across the university while focusing on the work people do every day.
“Understanding the experiences of faculty, staff and administrators allows HR to identify what’s working well and where friction exists so we can create the conditions for excellence across the university,” he says.
Roesler earned a doctorate in human resources from Capella University and an MBA in health care administration from the University of Mary. His professional background includes service in senior compliance roles, including ADA coordinator, Title IX officer and ethics officer. He also served in the United States Navy, Submarine Force Atlantic, where he was a leading petty officer.
Outside of work, Roesler enjoys writing, spending time outdoors and being with family — interests he says help him reflect, recharge and stay grounded.