President Kent L. Henning

On January 17, 2000, Kent L. Henning became the thirteenth president of Grand View.  Before coming to Grand View, Henning worked 20 years in college advancement, including service at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin; George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia; Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Durham, North Carolina; and Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.

Born March 31, 1958, Henning was raised near McGregor, Iowa.  In 1980 he graduated from Wartburg College with a bachelor of arts degree in English and communication arts, and in 1989, graduated the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University with an MBA.

Henning and his wife, Carole, a journalism and English teacher at Southeast Polk High School, have two teenage daughters, Audrey and Julia.

Since Henning’s arrival at Grand View, the College has grown significantly.  Total enrollment now stands at approximately 1,850.  In the fall of 2008 a new academic building was completed to house several departments.  Twelve new majors have been added, bringing the total to thirty-five baccalaureate majors; the full-time faculty has grown to 90 positions; the federal Department of Education awarded Grand View a $1.8 million grant to support student success initiatives, and Grand View has invested $2 million in new and upgraded technology.

Henning is active in the community as well.  He serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Iowa Health-Des Moines and serves on the Board of the Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative.  He is a Board Member of Bankers Trust and completed two years as chair of the Community Development Board for the Greater Des Moines Partnership.  He holds membership of the Rotary Club of Des Moines, Hyperion Field Club, and St. James Lutheran Church.