Robert E. Dunker

Robert E. Dunker was the second president of Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa, United States. He was preceded by Robert H. Kiser and succeeded by Terry Murrell. Graduated from the college's first Mechanical Drafting and Design Technology class, Dunker oversaw the college during an extraordinary period of growth. During his twenty years serving the college, enrollment grew from less than 1,700 to over 6,000 students.
In 1992, remodeling of the college's original structure added two lecture halls and an interactive television classroom. Distance learning became a reality. Through community partnerships, the college constructed and opened the Denison Campus in 1993. In 1996, through community partnerships, the college constructed and opened the Cherokee Campus and Conference Center. In 1994, extensive construction joined the college's first two structures into an instructional, student service administrative facility known as the Dr. Robert H. Kiser Building.
In 2000, fall credit enrollment totaled 4,365. Online classes were first offered in 2002 providing a whole new, convenient platform for learning. KWIT added KOJI in 2002 bring Iowa public radio programming to the Great Lakes region for the first time. In 2003, the Denison campus was remodeled and expanded adding classroom, library and new high-tech equipment space.
During that same year, the first tree was planted on the Sioux City campus's Loess Hills Arboretum and Nature Trail. The Advanced Sciences Building, which was started in 2003, was dedicated and held its first classes in 2005. It added of additional instructional space to the Sioux City campus. During 2007, the college saw its first annual homecoming celebration and debuted its new Comets mascot. In 2008, the Sioux City campus expanded significantly, adding of undeveloped woodland, prairie, and watershed to its Loess Hills Arboretum and Nature Trail. A new residence hall, the Bur Oaks Suites, was also completed, adding housing for 185 more students. Likewise, the Security Institute, a facility, was constructed. The structure is a collaboration of the college, the city, and county, and provides an unprecedented standard of training in real-life, real-time condition of crisis and a new location for county 911 communications and city/county emergency operations. In 2009 the Beltway Center on Highway 75 North in Sioux City was secured as a site for housing transportation related training including truck driving and motorcycle handling.
During 2011, Dr. Robert E. Dunker retired as president after 20 years of service. Upon his retirement, he received the title of President Emeritus and was further honored by the dedication of the new student center in his name. This center provides fitness and meeting facilities for learners and employees. Dr. Terry A. Murrell, who joined Western Iowa Tech four years earlier, was selected by the Board of Directors after a national search to become the college's third president.

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