Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad appointed a new member to the state Board of Regents on May 6.

Mike Richards, a West Des Moines physician, was appointed to fill the vacancy left by former Regent Mary Andringa, who stepped down last month after one year of her six-year term.

“I am pleased today to appoint Dr. Mike Richards as a member of the Board of Regents,” Branstad said in a press release. “Dr. Richards’ medical knowledge and business experience make him a great addition to the Board of Regents. His belief in strengthening and preserving our state universities and providing affordable, world-class higher education for students will serve him well as a regent.”

Richards’ term will begin immediately, but he will need to be approved by the state Senate when it goes back into session, most likely sometime next year.

Richards completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa and graduated from what is now the UI Carver College of Medicine.

A registered Republican, Richards has donated more than $40,000 to Branstad’s campaign since 2009, according to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. In November 2015, he donated $10,000 to Kim Reynolds’ campaign for lieutenant governor.

According to Iowa law, there can be no more than five members of one political party on the regents at one time. With Richards’ appointment, there are now five Republicans on the board, three independents, and one Democrat.