Board of Regents Fires Spokeswoman

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The board that governs Iowa’s public universities has let go a 29-year employee who had been its spokeswoman for years.

The Iowa Board of Regents confirmed Monday that communications director Sheila Doyle Koppin’s job has been eliminated. Her last day was Friday.

The change comes after the board acknowledged last week it will also soon be cutting ties with Tom Evans, its longtime general counsel.

Earlier this year, the board created a new senior communications director position. Josh Lehman started work June 15 in that role.

Board executive director Bob Donley says officials determined Koppin’s job duties could be absorbed by others.

Koppin joined the board in 1986 in the business and finance unit. Since 2006, she handled the board’s media and communications responsibilities. She had a salary of $76,000.