• In the Adult Education and Literacy component of her new job, Frederickson said there are more than 80 instructors who currently work with adult students in HiSET, non-credit English Language Learning, Integrated Education and Training, and the Adult Literacy Center at DMACC. 

  • Frederickson will also oversee all educational activities related to justice-impacted communities, including programs at the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in Mitchellville and the Newton Correctional Facility in Newton.

  • “Teaching in the prison was a rewarding experience that allowed me to enhance my skills as an educator," Frederickson said.

DMACC has announced the appointment of Jessica "Jess" Frederickson as the new Executive Director of Higher Education in Prison and Adult Education and Literacy at DMACC. With more than two decades of experience in education, corrections and workforce development, Frederickson brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to this crucial role. 

“Teaching in the prison was a rewarding experience that significantly enhanced my skills as an educator," Frederickson said. "DMACC strives to provide incarcerated students with an educational experience that closely mirrors that of the College's on-campus programs." 

In her new role, Frederickson will oversee all educational activities related to justice-impacted communities, including programs at the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in Mitchellville and the Newton Correctional Facility in Newton. Additionally, Frederickson returns to a familiar setting, having previously served as a Training Specialist 2 with the Iowa Department of Corrections. There, she played a vital role in training new employees, managing data in learning management systems, and creating both in-person and digital learning opportunities. She also served as a Correctional Education Instructor at DMACC for eight years, where she taught high school equivalency classes, supervised incarcerated individuals as tutors and participated in the Correctional Education Association audit. 

Most recently, Frederickson was the Adult Education Workforce Coordinator at Iowa Workforce Development. In this role, she planned, organized and led statewide professional development initiatives, facilitated training, and collaborated with stakeholders such as the Iowa Literacy Council. 

In her new role, she will report to DMACC Vice President of Student Affairs Erica Spiller.

“Jess brings with her a wealth of experience in HiSET (High School Equivalency Test), Corrections instruction and training, and with Adult Education Workforce coordination through Iowa Workforce Development," Spiller said. “She demonstrates a strong commitment to and understanding of these areas, and her experiences and skills will be invaluable to these departments and the students, communities and businesses they serve."

Frederickson is passionate about adult education and teaching in the prison system.

"Teaching in the prison was an immensely fulfilling experience," Frederickson said. “The students' diverse backgrounds and perspectives greatly enriched my teaching. Most instructors are unaware of the profound benefits of working inside the prison walls. The students are typically very eager to learn, and those who have taught in this environment often find it incredibly rewarding." 

In the Adult Education and Literacy component of her new job, she said there are more than 80 instructors who work with adult students in HiSET, non-credit English Language Learners (ELL), Integrated Education and Training, and the Adult Literacy Center at DMACC. The programs under DMACC's Adult Education and Literacy umbrella have experienced continued growth and are supporting students, businesses and industries in and beyond the metro.

Frederickson is also a member of the Professional Development Committee for the Iowa Consortium for Higher Education in Prisons. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Upper Iowa Uni​versity, a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications from W​ayne State College, and a Master of Arts in Education from Viterbo U​niversity.

Frederickson has been married to her husband, Chris, for 27 years. They have three children: Ben, who earned an IT and Accounting degree from DMACC; Beth, who graduated from DMACC's Nursing program; and Keagan, who is a sophomore at Ankeny Centennial High School. 

Frederickson begins her new position on July 1.

Contact: Erica Spiller, Vice President of Academic Affairs at DMACC, (515) 964-6622