AFIT welcomes Dr. Jesse Ulrich, President of Iowa Central Community College

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jesse Ulrich, President of Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa to our collaborative community of innovators. 

Dr. Ulrich's path to the Iowa Central presidency is a story that comes full circle: he began his higher education journey as a student at Iowa Central, earning his Associate of Arts degree before going on to Buena Vista University and then Iowa State University, where he completed his Master's, Certificate of Advanced Studies, and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. He was inducted into Iowa Central's Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2019 — two years before returning to lead the institution he once attended as Iowa Central's sixth president in July 2021. 

Prior to his presidency, Jesse served as Superintendent for the Fort Dodge Community School District and two other Iowa school districts, bringing more than a decade of administrative leadership built on community engagement and student-centered initiatives. 

Since taking the helm, he has overseen a campus transformation totaling more than $40 million in new facilities and renovations — projects spanning the performing arts, academic technology, workforce training, and athletics. Iowa Central has also seen growth in enrollment, graduation rates, and retention during his tenure, and has earned recognition as an Iowa Top Workplace four years running. 

Dr. Ulrich is a graduate of Leadership Iowa's 2024 cohort and contributes to advisory boards at both Buena Vista University and Iowa State University, where he offers perspective on developing the next generation of educators and leaders.