Topeka ? Janice DeBauge has been elected chairwoman of the Kansas Board of Regents for the coming year.

DeBauge, of Emporia, was elected Thursday. She has been on the regents since 1999 and recently was reappointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Meanwhile, a Sebelius spokeswoman said the governor was close to appointing successors for regents Fred Kerr of Pratt and Jack Wempe of Lyons. Both are leaving the board after four years and attended their last meeting on Thursday.

“We’re in the process of making those appointments now,” said Megan Ingmire, the spokeswoman. “We really don’t want to put a time frame on it. We hope to have it soon.”

DeBauge, who served as vice chair during the last year, said she looked forward to helping integrate the state’s higher education system. She said the system, which was reorganized in 1999, was “no longer an infant.”

DeBauge is a professional vocalist who also is a church musician and private piano and vocal music teacher in Emporia.

Both Kerr and Wempe indicated they didn’t want to serve another term on the board.

Wempe, who served as chairman during the last year, owns and manages a real estate company in Lyons. He is a former public school teacher and administrator who also served eight years in the Kansas House of Representatives.

Kerr, a Pratt County farmer, served 12 years in the Kansas Senate. He also sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1994.

Regent Dick Bond of Overland Park, who was appointed last year by Gov. Bill Graves, will serve as the board’s vice chairman the coming 12 months.