Taking place during a telephonic meeting Monday, the Iowa Board of Regents voted to approve the newest president and president pro-tem of the board.

Both Regent Mike Richards, elected president, and Regent Patricia Cownie, elected president pro-tem, were unanimously approved, as well as the sole nominees within their positions.

Filling in for both Regent Bruce Rastetter and Regent Katie Mulholland, whose terms as president and president pro-tem expired April 30, the new terms began Monday and will last until April 30, 2018.

Appointed to the board in April of 2016 to fill in for former Regent Mary Andringa, Richards is currently the vice chairman of the aerospace and medical manufacturing company Quatro Composites. He also serves as president of the Richards Consulting Group as well as vice chairman of Wild Rose Entertainment.

Cownie was appointed to the board in March of 2015 by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. An active community member of Des Moines, Cownie served on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Mercy Hospital Foundation, Des Moines Arts Festival and Des Moines Civic Center.

The Board of Regents will meet with their new president and president pro-tem for the first time during their meeting starting on June 6.