Board of Trustees | Photo by Abigail Abbott | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University administrators guide the planning and management of WSU, and with this work comes high pay. With some salaries numbering up to $711,954 in the year 2023, you will be shocked to find out which administrators have the highest salary.
Background law
The following salary data is sourced from GovSalaries.com. All of the information is public record as required by law, known as the “Sunshine Laws.”
According to the Ohio Revised Code, “‘Public record’ means records kept by any public office, including, but not limited to, state, county, city, village, township and school district units, and records pertaining to the delivery of educational services by an alternative school in this state kept by the nonprofit or for-profit entity operating the alternative school pursuant to section 3313.533 of the Revised Code.”
This article considers WSU administrators under the titles of President, Dean, Vice Dean, Provost, Director, Chair and Chairperson. Individuals are organized by their compensation in the year 2023, beginning with the greatest compensation to the lowest compensation.
Salaries
1. Valerie Weber is the Dean of the Boonshoft School of Medicine and Professor of Internal Medicine, appointed Nov. 1 of 2020.
According to GovSalaries, in 2023, “Valerie Weber…was employed at [WSU] and had an annual salary of $711,954. This salary was 1,162 percent higher than the average and 1,480 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU].”
Weber held two jobs at WSU from 2020 to 2023. She held the job of Dean and Professor from 2021 to 2023.
“In 2023 Valerie Weber's salary was 218 percent higher than average Professor/Dean salary in the state of Ohio,” public records show.
Weber is the highest paid administrator in WSU, including President Susan Edwards.
2. Susan L. Edwards is the President of Wright State University beginning Jan.1 of 2020.
“[In 2023], Susan Edwards was employed at Wright State University and had an annual salary of $543,697 according to public records. This salary was 864 percent higher than the average and 1,106 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU].”
WSU records show that Edwards held three jobs from 2019 to 2023. From 2021 to 2023, Edwards held the job of University President.
3. Randy J. Woods is Chair and Associate Professor of Surgery.
According to public record, “Randy J. Woods…was employed at [WSU] and had an annual salary of $407,403. This salary was 622 percent higher than the average and 804 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU]”
Woods’ salary was 315 percent higher than average Associate Professor salary in the state of Ohio.
4. Glen D. Solomon. is Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine.
“Glen D. Solomon…was employed at [WSU] and had an annual salary of $401,710 according to public records. This salary was 612 percent higher than the average and 791 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU],” GovSalaries said.
In 2023, Glen Solomon's salary was 160 percent higher than average Professor/Chair salary in the state of Ohio.
5. Gregory Paul Sample is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
“Gregory Paul Sample… was employed at Wright State University and had an annual salary of $339,910”, according to public records. “This salary was 503 percent higher than the average and 654 percent higher than the median salary in Wright State University.”
Wright State University records show Gregory Paul Sample held three jobs from 2019 to 2023. From 2021 to 2023 Gregory Paul Sample held the position of Evp Coo & Ceo Db Properties.
6. Eric S. Bennett is a Professor and Chair of the NCBP and Interim Chair of the BMB.
According to GovSalaries, “Eric S. Bennett…was employed at Wright State University and had an annual salary of $336,384. This salary was 496 percent higher than the average and 646 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU].”
Eric S. Bennett's salary was 118 percent higher than average Professor/Chair salary in the state of Ohio.
7. Jeffrey Bryant Travers is a Professor of Dermatology and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
“Jeffrey Bryant Travers… was employed at Wright State University and had an annual salary of $334,206 according to public records. This salary was 493 percent higher than the average and 642 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU],” public records show.
8. Robert A. Grant was Director of Athletics. Grant announced retirement in March of 2023.
According to public records, “Robert A. Grant… was employed at Wright State University and had an annual salary of $325,885. This salary was 478 percent higher than the average and 623 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU]”.
Robert Grant's salary was 228 percent higher than average Director Athletics salary in the state of Ohio.
9. Julie P. Gentile is Chair and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.
“Julie Patrice Gentile in 2023 was employed at Wright State University and had an annual salary of $320,915. This salary was 469 percent higher than the average and 612 percent higher than the median salary in Wright State University,” GovSalaries said.
Julie Patrice Gentile's salary was 108 percent higher than average Professor/Chair salary in the state of Ohio.”
10. Ngozi F. Anachebe is Vice Dean for Educational Affairs at the Boonshoft School of Medicine.
According to GovSalaries, “Ngozi Felicia Anachebe…was employed at Wright State University and had an annual salary of $319,125. This salary was 466 percent higher than the average and 608 percent higher than the median salary in [WSU].”
Ngozi Felicia Anachebe's salary was 225 percent higher than the average Associate Professor salary in the state of Ohio.
Statistics and exclusions
Excluded in this list is Former Head Men’s Basketball Coach Scott Michael Nagy, due to not possessing an administrative title. Nagy’s salary in 2023 was $564,000, the second-highest university wide.
Wright State University’s total revenue for 2023 was $286.97 million, as stated in a Board of Trustees meeting in the summer of 2024. The ten most highly paid administrators in 2023 possessed a total of $4,041,189 in compensation, accounting for approximately 1.4% of WSU’s total revenue. According to GovSalaries, WSU employed 2,312 salaried individuals in 2023.
Also according to GovSalaries, “[The] average annual salary was $56,396, and median salary was $45,068.”
Wright State’s average and median salaries are higher than the rest of the country, with the average salary being 20% higher, and median salary being 4% higher than that of the rest of the U.S. However, WSU approved a 3% raise for faculty in December 2023 in a collective bargaining agreement.
Overall, 40% of the ten most highly paid administrators were women, and 60% were men.
According to Glassdoor.com, the average professor is paid $84,502 in the state of Ohio. The least paid administrator on this list is paid over $200,000 more than the average professor.
Public records are not limited to just education. Public record also includes governmental conduct, court records, adoption records, probation and parole records, community control sanctions and more.
All of this information is freely available to the public.
