Bruce Rastetter has been named the Iowa Board of Regents President, and will be until April 30, 2014.

The Iowa Senate rejected Former President Craig Lang’s reconfirmation as the BOR President this spring, and Rastetter has served as interim president since May 1.

“Bruce and I have worked together the last year and a half and have a good working relationship,” said Iowa State President Steven Leath.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a liberal advocacy group, released a statement after Rastetter was approved as BOR President.

“Rastetter lost the trust of everyday Iowans a long time ago and a very skeptical public is going to be watching his every move as president like a hawk,” said ICCI member Ross Grooters in the ICCI statement.  

“He’s shown time and time again that he views Iowa’s public universities as nothing more than a tool to further his own pro-corporate agenda.”

Leath disagreed with these accusations and only had support for Rastetter.

“He is an incredibly strong, positive advocate and has helped us advance our transparency initiative and with state funding. The funding wouldn’t have happened had it not been for Bruce, so I have to disagree with those criticisms,” Leath said in response to the comments attacking Rastetter’s agenda.

Regent Katie Mulholland will serve as president pro term, also through April 30, 2014. 

After being appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad, Rastetter and Mulholland were unanimously selected by the board.

The BOR met Wednesday at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.