As the Board of Regents sat down for its regular meeting in Vermillion last week, it welcomed a new member to its ranks.

Dr. Richard Belatti of Madison was appointed to the South Dakota Board of Regents by Gov. Mike Rounds February 26.

Belatti completes the term of Dave Gienapp, also of Madison, who resigned from the board after he was appointed a circuit court judge last April.

Belatti’s appointment includes both the current term, which ends April 1, and the next term, which ends in 2009.

He served in both chambers of the South Dakota Legislature, representing Minnehaha County in the Senate from 1989-92 and Lake County in the House from 1995-98.

Belatti has a B.S. degree from the College of St. Thomas, a B.S. degree in medicine from the University of South Dakota and an M.D. from Creighton University