Applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to Data Initiatives
How DMACC Built a Foundation for Scalable, Trusted, and Actionable Data
 
Most data strategies fail not because of a lack of ambition, but because institutions try to jump to advanced analytics before foundational needs like access, trust, and governance are in place. Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Iowa’s largest community college, took a different approach. By applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to its data initiatives, DMACC created a clear roadmap for prioritizing the right projects at the right time—starting with a strong data foundation.
 
In this conversation, Institutional Effectiveness leader Debbie Kepple-Mamros shares how DMACC moved from fragmented reporting and limited access to a more scalable, institution-wide data environment. You’ll hear how early wins—like the Emergency Dashboard and Fast Facts Dashboard—helped build trust, expand data adoption, and position the institution for more advanced, self-service analytics.
 
If you’re a data or IT leader wrestling with competing priorities, stakeholder expectations, or “dashboard fatigue,” this on-demand session offers a practical framework you can apply immediately.
On-Demand Webinar
February 2026
Watch this on-demand webinar to hear a candid discussion with EAB expert Kurtis Hagans, Tara Zirkel, and Debbie Kepple-Mamros, Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness at DMACC, as they explore how DMACC reimagined its data strategy. 
 
In this on-demand webinar, you’ll learn how to:
 
  • Prioritize data initiatives using a framework that aligns technical work with institutional impact
  • Identify and close gaps in data access, governance, and trust without overengineering early solutions
  • Lay the groundwork for data self-service and advanced analytics by getting the fundamentals right first
You’ll also see how EAB’s higher education data management platform, Edify, supports institutions in centralizing data, standardizing metrics, and enabling confident, strategic decision-making at scale.

Access the Slides & Recording

Speakers

Debbie Kepple-Mamros
Des Moines Area Community College,
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness

Kurtis Hagans
EAB
Senior Strategic Leader, 
Data and Analytics

Tara Zirkel
EAB
Director,
Strategic Research