LSU President-Elect F. King Alexander officially accepted an annual salary of $600,000 last week, a figure similar to that of past leaders like former LSU System President John Lombardi and Interim System President and Chancellor William “Bill” Jenkins.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Hank Danos outlined Alexander’s contract in a letter of appointment at Wednesday’s Board meeting.
Danos gave Lombardi and Jenkins similar letters describing their contracts and salaries after being approved by the Board.
According to Danos’ letter, Lombardi received a total of $550,000 per fiscal year.
Lombardi’s $450,000 base salary was paid using state funds with a supplement from the LSU Foundation in the amount of $100,000.
Alexander’s pay will come exclusively from state funds, but his contract doesn’t outline any supplemental salary.
After Lombardi was fired from his position as System president in April 2012 because he did not provide the leadership the University needed, according to Danos, and former LSU Chancellor Michael Martin left to accept a position at Colorado State University, Jenkins was hired to fill both positions in the interim.
Jenkins’ contract listed his base salary as $425,000 with supplemental compensation from “affiliated foundations” at $175,000.
Danos’ letter to Alexander included a $36,000 annual housing allowance and a $15,000 automobile allowance. Alexander will also receive employee benefits and will be awarded the rank of professor with tenure in the College of Human Sciences and Education.
Housing and automobile allowances, benefits and awarded tenure are standard among the three contracts, although Jenkins’ allowances were related on a monthly basis rather than yearly.
After Alexander was recommended by the Presidential Search Committee as the sole finalist for the combined position of LSU System president and University chancellor, the Board of Supervisors approved Alexander with a unanimous vote March 27.
Alexander has been visiting campus about every two weeks since then — a habit he said he wants to continue until he officially begins the position July 1.
