Armel Traore Dit Nignan currently serves as Vice President of the Waukee Community School District Board of Education. Since 2021 he has worked to set a clear, inclusive policy. He advocates for students and staff. Additionally, Armel acts as a thoughtful ambassador for Waukee’s schools.
Armel has been an active member of both the Policy Committee and Financial Services Committee, guiding major decisions with care and collaboration. He also supported the district’s Artificial‑Intelligence Guiding Principles, ensuring emerging technologies are used ethically and effectively in classrooms.
A father of two children in the Waukee school system, Armel combines personal investment with a broad community mindset. Professionally, he leads the Real Estate Data & Analytics program at Principal Asset Management. Armel brings a data‑driven, forward‑thinking approach to board governance.
Beyond the school board, Armel serves on the boards of the Blank Park Zoo and the Dallas County Assessor’s Conference Board, representing the Waukee Community School District. He also coaches several youth sports teams and is a graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute. He was also recognized as one of the Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40 honorees.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Drake University. There, he played basketball and met his wife, Nicole. Armel also holds an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago. Together they have two energetic sons, John Henry and Theo.
Armel for Waukee School Board 