Des Moines entrepreneur and business innovator Tej Dhawan has been elected chair of the Central College board of trustees.
Dhawan succeeds chair Lanny Little. A 1991 Central graduate, Dhawan was student body president as an undergraduate. He joined the trustees in 2002 after six years of service on the college’s National Advisory Council. Dhawan served as chair of the board’s finance committee from 2009-12 and has served on board committees for student development, executive compensation, investment and trusteeship, as well as the executive committee. He was also a board representative on the presidential search committee that brought Central’s President Mark Putnam to the college in 2010.
Dhawan is currently chief data officer for Principal Financial Group. During its April meeting, the Central College board of trustees also honored outgoing board chair Lanny Little by naming him chair emeritus. Although leaving the chair position, Little will continue to serve on the board. A 1974 graduate of Central, Little currently lives in Bonita Springs, Florida.