Nixon makes appointments to 4 college boards, including SEMO

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has filled vacancies on the governing boards of four state universities.

Nixon appointed Democrat Peter Hofherr and Republican Stephen Hoven to the Missouri State University board. Hofherr was the director for the state Department of Agriculture from 2003 to 2005. Hoven is the corporate vice president of public affairs for SSM Health Care in St. Louis.

At Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Nixon named former Judge James Fleischaker, a Democrat. David Sigars was named the student representative to that governing board.

The governor also chose Democrat Kendra Neely-Martin for the board of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and Republican Gus Wetzel II for the board at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

The appointments require state Senate confirmation.