Lewis-Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton will receive a 14.6% pay raise.
The State Board of Education approved the raise last week, bumping Pemberton’s annual salary from $240,000 to $275,000. In terms of percentages — as well as raw dollars — it’s the largest raise the board awarded to a college or university president last week.
The $35,000 raise recognizes Pemberton’s “solid performance,” State Board spokesman Mike Keckler said, and is designed to bring Pemberton’s salary in line with the rest of the state’s higher education system.
Even with the raise, which goes into effect July 1, the president of Idaho’s smallest four-year college is making less than the president of Idaho’s largest two-year college.
College of Western Idaho President Gordon Jones makes $315,000 per year. Jones began his job in January.
College of Southern Idaho President Dean Fisher, hired in 2020, is making $237,500 this year — roughly the same as Pemberton’s current salary.
Pemberton has been Lewis-Clark’s president since 2018.
The State Board reviews presidents’ salaries annually. The board can award raises, based on performance reviews, but cannot cut a president’s salary.
Here’s how the university presidents’ pay raises compare:
- University of Idaho President C. Scott Green: New salary $440,993, current salary $419,994. A 5.0% raise.
- Boise State University President Marlene Tromp: New salary $437,757, current salary $425,006. A 3.0% raise.
- Idaho State University President Kevin Satterlee: New salary $420,000, current salary $400,000. A 5.0% raise.
