Riding DART: A Lifestyle Choice for Head of Science Center

“It’s a dream job,” Curt Simmons said while reflecting on his role as President & CEO of the Science Center of Iowa. “We are one of those unique places where folks from different walks of life can come together and enjoy an experience. I see it all the time – kids working together that don’t know each other, trying to solve a problem or build a paper rocket. It reminds me why I do this.”

Curt Simmons has served as CEO for more than half of his 19 years at the Science Center of Iowa. Despite guiding the museum through some tougher years when the pandemic forced the museum to close for several months and then navigating a period of recovery, Curt said the Science Center is taking an aspirational approach heading into 2026. “We’re really asking ourselves, what does a flourishing Science Center look like 10 years from now? We’ll always have great exhibits and experiences, but what else do we need to do? How can we support the community?”

In seeking answers to such strategic questions, Curt said he draws inspiration from his personal experience as a regular public transit rider.
 

Riding DART: A Lifestyle Choice

An Ingersoll Avenue resident, Curt rides DART Routes 11 and 60 most days. Aside from commuting to work, Curt also takes the bus to go to Varsity Theater near Drake University and Valley Junction in West Des Moines. “When I first took over as CEO, I did a little driving. Then I realized, I’m just driving downtown, and it made more sense for me to take the bus.”

His choice to ride DART didn’t start then, however. Curt has prioritized using the bus ever since moving to Des Moines in 2006. “I have, for almost all of my career, always tried to live within a short distance of public transportation,” he said. “We made sure our first rental property here was within a couple of blocks of a bus stop. When we bought houses here, it always had to be near a bus stop because it was important to me to commit to using public transit as much as possible.”

When asked why he’s so intentional about riding DART, Curt said, “We all tend to operate in our own circles. Riding the bus allows me to hear different perspectives from people in different places in their lives.”
 

How DART Guides Curt’s Leadership Approach

Riding DART every day gives Curt plenty of time to ponder how the Science Center can best serve the region in the years to come. “We obviously have what we would consider our core audience, but to be truly successful we have to figure out how to reach others that may not feel like the Science Center is accessible to them,” Curt said. “I only live in one neighborhood, so riding DART helps me understand other perspectives that are out there.”

Curt added that seeing students or families on the bus who rely on DART as their primary means of transportation reminds him that “we [the Science Center] have to go much further to reach some families and individuals.”

Sentiments like these are driving the museum’s strategic planning in the year ahead. In a big step to help reach more central Iowans, Curt said he’s developing a partnership with some community organizations to get free Science Center tickets in the hands of their clients or residents. “I think it’ll be a great, successful program,” Curt said.
 

Infrastructure for a Healthy Community

Curt believes DART is valuable to the region and wants other local leaders to consider how investing in infrastructure, like transit, supports Greater Des Moines’ corporate and cultural institutions.

Recalling a presentation he heard from a nationally renowned economist, Curt said, “Des Moines is very successful and has accomplished a lot to outperform other cities, especially in the Midwest. But we have to continue investing. You can’t just let it go. You’ve got to support that robust infrastructure we had a dream of building in order to have a healthy community.”