Des Moines University President Terry Branstad retires

• by Des Moines University

DES MOINES, IA (10/16/2009)(readMedia)-- At noon today in a private session, Des Moines University President Terry E. Branstad announced his retirement to students, staff and faculty. Effective immediately, he is now free to pursue the possibility of running for public office. He had been president and CEO of Des Moines University (DMU) since August 2003. He was the 14th president in the University's 111-year history.

The DMU board of trustees named Steve Dengle, executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), interim president of Des Moines University today.

Dengle has been at Des Moines University (DMU) since 1979 and previously served as interim president December 2002 through August 2003. He has served as personnel director, executive assistant to the president, executive director of administrative services, vice president for administration and finance and chief finance officer. He has been the University's COO since 2005. He has a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Iowa. He also serves as a board member for the Iowa Chronic Care Consortium, Free Clinics of Iowa and American Osteopathic Foundation.

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Des Moines University is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, anatomy, biomedical sciences, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions. For more information, please visit www.dmu.edu.