IOWA CITY — An Iowa Board of Regent position left vacant since June has been filled.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday before the regents the appointment of Rose Vasquez of Des Moines to fill the position vacated by Des Moines Regent Deb Turner.

“I have recognized for sometime there’s been an empty chair at the board. Deb Turner has served the board and the state well. She brought an interesting perspective to the board — that of a minority and professional on the board,” Vilsack said. “But she has decided it’s time to move away from the board to more pressing matters in her life.”

Turner, who is black, was appointed by the governor in 1999 and served during that time as the board’s only minority regent.

“We began the process of looking for someone who can fill the niche Deb filled so well. We were looking for a woman and someone who knows of the problems of minority issues in the state,” Vilsack said. “Rose Vasquez has private sector experience in diversity and workforce issues, and has served the public sector as the director of the Department of Human Rights, and as assistant attorney general. Her experience will be well suited to helping our regents institutions to create opportunity for all Iowans.”

Vasquez, a Latina, is employed by the Principal Financial Group as the company’s diversity consultant in the human resources department. She is currently the executive director of the Polk County Human Services Planning Alliance, serving “on loan” from Principal as part of the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Project Destiny.

“It is important for this board to continue to reach out to the minority population in this state,” Vilsack said.

“With her Hispanic background, I believe she will do well to help the board understand the needs of Hispanic students for access to public higher education.”

Although members are gubernatorial appointments, the Iowa Senate must confirm all appointments. Since Vasquez was appointed while the Legislature was not in session, she will begin serving immediately, and the Iowa Senate will take up her confirmation at the beginning of its next session in January.

“I feel very privileged to serve the state of Iowa on the Board of Regents, and I will do everything I can to maintain the high level of excellence we expect from our regents institutions,” Vasquez said. “Education at all levels is critical to maintaining the momentum for a stronger and more secure Iowa, and I look forward to working with the other regents to that end.”

The regents said they are looking forward to working with Vasquez; however, they said Turner will be missed.

Turner, who practices gynecological oncology with the Surgical Affiliates in Des Moines, indicated a desire to have more time with her medical practice, family and class work as a part-time student at Drake Law School in Des Moines.

Turner is an ISU graduate with a degree in distributed studies, as well as a Medical Doctorate degree from the University of Iowa.

“She is an extraordinary woman and contributed enormously to the board, but felt some conflicts time-wise with fulfilling both her commitments to the board and performing life-saving surgeries for her cancer patients,” said Barb Boose, communications specialist for the Board of Regents. “She was someone who loved to serve other people, and I know it was hard for her to resign. Her demanding schedule says a lot about her high energy level and willingness to improve the quality of life in the state.”