PROVIDENCE – Brown University President Christina H. Paxson was the highest-compensated higher education executive in the Providence metropolitan area, according to the Executive Compensation at Private and Public Colleges report from the Chronicle of Higher Education released Sunday.
The report includes retirement benefits, bonuses and other pay combined with base compensation. The report includes data on 600 private colleges from 2008 through 2015 and 250 public universities and colleges from 2010-11 through 2015-16.
Paxson received a combined $1,067,491 in 2015, including $682,000 in base pay, ranking No. 46 in the nation for highest compensation measured in the study.
Bryant University President Ronald K. Machtley ranked No. 88 in the nation and No. 2 in the Providence metro with a total compensation of $767,183 in 2015. Machtley had a base compensation of $607,704.
John J. Bowen, president of Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, followed one rank behind Machtley, at No. 89 in the nation and No. 3 in the Providence metro, with a total compensation of $766,231 and a base pay of $692,059 in 2015.
Roger Williams University President Donald J. Farish ranked No. 4 in the Providence metro and No. 155 in the nation with a total compensation of $560,820 and a base pay of $430,568 in 2015.
Rosanne Somerson, president of Rhode Island School of Design, ranked No. 5 in the Providence metro and No. 166 in the nation with a total compensation of $533,110 and a base pay of $456,121 in 2015.
University of Rhode Island President David M. Dooley was the highest-paid public college executive in the Providence metro in 2015-16 at $383,000, with a base pay of $340,000.
In 2014, New England Institute of Technology President Richard I. Gouse ranked highest among private college chief executives in the region. NEIT was not included in the 2015 rankings.
Data was not provided in the report for the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth or Wheaton College.
Total compensation in 2015 for executives at other private colleges in the Rhode Island and Bristol County, Mass., area:
- Jane Gerety, president of Salve Regina University: $73,292
- Brian J. Shanley, president of Providence College: $56,457
- John Denning, president of Stonehill College: $30,434
Nathan O. Hatch, president of Wake Forest University, ranked No. 1 for highest private college compensation for 2015, earning a total of $4,004,617.
Michael M. Crowe, president and professor at Arizona State University, was the highest-compensated public college executive in 2015-16, earning a total of $1,554,058.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
