KCCI viewers will soon bid goodbye to weekend morning anchor Nicole Tam as she departs from the station.
Tam joined the station in January 2023, working on weekend mornings. During the week, she reported on the traffic segment at the 4 p.m. newscast in addition to covering central Iowa news.
“It has been an honor learning from veteran journalists on-air and behind the scenes,” Tam said in an email to the Register on Sept. 10. She highlighted the top-notch work of peers like Stacy Horst, Eric Hanson and Cortney Kintzer.
One of Tam’s favorite parts of her job was covering the Iowa State Fair, but she treasures telling Iowans’ stories. One of her recent stories took her inside the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny. She shared how the staff operates and helps give answers to Iowa families after a suspicious or unexpected natural death.
“Those moments of access and helping communicate important messages make up why being a journalist is so rewarding,” Tam said.
Tam’s final day with KCCI is Sept. 14.
Where is KCCI’s Nicole Tam going next?
Tam’s next move is to western Michigan to work in TV for the Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo market. Tam’s significant other recently finished medical school at Des Moines University and he accepted a surgical residency at Western Michigan University. Tam was looking for a new step in her career, so it seemed like the right time for a change.
“Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo seemed like a great next challenge for both of us, so it felt like the best of both worlds,” Tam said. “I have learned so much during my time in Iowa; it has been a blast, and I am forever grateful to how welcoming Iowans are to this Hawaii girl.”
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What is Nicole Tam’s background before KCCI?
Nicole Tam leaves KCCI on Sept. 14, 2025, after serving as the weekend morning anchor.
After spending part of her childhood in Hong Kong, Tam and her parents moved to Hawaii when she was 10 years old, she previously told the Register. As a kid, she remembers watching meteorologists deliver forecasts on TV with her parents. This was the start of her passion for broadcasting.
Tam went on to attend the University of Hawaii Mānoa and graduated with a double major in journalism and Chinese. She briefly served as the editor-in-chief at her college newspaper. During Tam’s studies, she worked at the Honolulu-based ABC station, KITV, as a digital producer for two years before graduating in 2018.
Out of college, Tam landed a job with KITV as an on-air reporter, covering volcanoes, crime, and healthcare. Tam came to KCCI after leaving KITV and became the station’s first Asian-American anchor.
While in Iowa, Tam volunteered for the Iowa Radio Reading Information Service. Every Monday for 90 minutes, she would read the Des Moines Register to more than 11,000 print-disabled listeners across Iowa. Tam also emceed for EveryStep, a nonprofit that provides services to Iowans in need throughout their life
“Thank you, Central Iowa, for being so welcoming and supportive since day one,” Tam said in a Facebook post. ” I will miss you all so much!”
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: KCCI anchor Nicole Tam is leaving. Where’s she going next?