Earlier this month, Huntsman appointed Rosinita Cespedes to the seat previously held by Maria Sweeten on the 18-member higher education governing Utah Board of Regents. He tapped Lorena Riffo-Jenson for Gloria Wilkinson's seat on the 10-member University of Utah Board of Trustees. Cespedes and Sweeten are Latinas. Riffo-Jenson, also Latina, replaces Wilkinson, who is black.

Sweeten, appointed in 1999 by former Gov. Mike Leavitt, when Lazette Hale, the first and only black appointee left the board that oversees Utah's 10 state-owned colleges and universities.

Cespedes is happy to be appointed, but hopes she wasn't selected for her minority status alone. "I have a Ph.D. and years of experience in education," said the director of the Sorenson Multi-Cultural Center in Salt Lake City. "I bring more to the table than my ethnicity."

In addition to her background in education, Cespedes is well-connected in the Latino community, said Rebecca Chavez-Houck of Centro de la Familia de Utah. Cespedes will help "broaden an understanding" of the difficulties minority students have in accessing higher education, she added.

C. Hopes Eccles, the governor's volunteer higher education adviser, says any perception that there is "one slot" for minority board representation is false.

The regents have specific criteria for board appointments but none involve ethnicity. For example, no more than eight of the 16 voting members on the 18-member Board of Regents can be from one political party. In addition, appointees must be able to commit 20-plus hours a week to the job, Eccles said.

The goal, she added, is to create a pool of candidates, especially ethnic minorities, who are involved in all areas of higher education by volunteering and serving on committees and task forces.

"Gov. Huntsman is committed to increasing the representation and voice of all Utah's communities," Eccles said.

"I want a board that represents different ideas and will help us think through problems from a lot of different angles," added Michael Young, U. of U. president.

Along with Cespedes, Huntsman named attorney Josh Reid and University of Utah student Gabriela Bradford to the regents. Three current members - Salt Lake City attorney James Jardine, SkyWest Chairman Jerry Atkin, and Carbon County attorney Michael Jensen - were reappointed to a second term.

Regents serve six-year terms. The student regent serves only one year.

College and university trustees are appointed to four-year terms.

Joining Riffo-Jenson, president of DPR Communications, on the U. board are St. George attorney Timothy Anderson and former IHC President Scott Parker. Huntsman also reappointed his higher education adviser, Eccles, to a second term as a U. trustee.

All the appointees were confirmed Wednesday by the state Senate.

Huntsman's other higher education picks

Utah State University Douglas D. Anderson, Douglas S. Foxley and Robert Lynn Foley are new appointees. Lynnette Throne Hansen has been reappointed.

Salt Lake Community College Peter R. Genereaux, Gail Miller, Jesselie Barlow Anderson and David G. Thomas all have been

reappointed.

Weber State University Kathyrn Lindquist, Jerry Stevenson and Jim C. Beardall are new members. Catherine Ortega

has been reappointed.

Dixie State College Reuben Joseph (R.J.) Snow and Steven G. Caplin are new appointees. Williams Ronnow and Vicki Wilson have been reappointed.

Snow College Eddie L. Cox, Theressa L. Alder and Mary Greathouse are new appointees. Timothy M. Blackham has been reappointed.

Southern Utah University Renn Zaphiropoulos and Gayle L. Pollock are new appointees. David H. Jeppson and Dane O. Leavitt have been reappointed.

Utah Valley State College Utah Valley State College - Timothy R. Clark, Karen L. Acerson, Doyle Mortimer and Carolyn Merrill are

new appointees.

College of Eastern Utah Appointments have not been completed.