Emporia State’s new president is making three percent more than her predecessor.
Allison Garrett, the 17th president of ESU, will earn $7,981 more than ESU’s previous president, Michael Shonrock.
While Shonrock earned $255,019 in his last year, Garrett will make $263,000, according to information released by the university.
“As an institution in Kansas and wanting to bring in candidates from all across the United States, we need to be competitive and I think that is why we have to raise the stakes to get the best people here and to stay at Emporia State,” said Janet Weaver, senior psychology major, president of Associated Student Government and a member of the Presidential Search Committee. “So I think it’s probably necessary.”
Weaver said the search committee did not have a say in the president’s salary or the accommodations they would receive. Those factors are decided by the Kansas Board of Regents.
Garrett, who was formerly the executive vice president at Abilene Christian University, began her tenure at ESU on Jan. 4, according to the university’s official website. Other previous experience includes five years as senior vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University and teaching law as an associate professor at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama.
“I really, really like President Garrett,” Weaver said. “She is going to be great, and I think she’s up for the challenge and I think she’s willing and able to overcome the obstacles that are placed before her. She’s going to exceed everyone’s expectations.”
Of Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State and ESU, Garrett will be the highest paid president for this year.
“When the Board decided what to offer Allison Garrett as the incoming president of Emporia State University, they examined what CEO compensation looked like at peer institutions and used that market-based consideration to negotiate an appropriate amount,” said Breeze Richardson, director of communications for KBOR.
Mirta Martin, president of Fort Hays, earns $260,000 annually, while Steve Scott, president of Pittsburg State, earns $258,194, according to the Topeka-Capital Journal.
Both Martin and Scott declined a two percent salary increase that was offered across the board to Regents university presidents in Kansas for fiscal year 2016.
Martin “said she wouldn’t take a raise while the school continues looking for ways to provide pay raises to faculty and staff,” the Topeka-Capital Journal also reported.
“I think that the Regents ‘approach was to acknowledge the fact that the state of Kansas is facing budgetary issues, and generally speaking, universities have struggled to keep up with cost of living increases with respect to faculty and staff pay,” Garrett said. “It’s my understand that the package I was offered was essentially what Dr. Shonrock was making.”
Garrett said that her unique experiences in higher education, which include work as an associate professor and a provost, will be beneficial to her career as president of ESU.
