Elson Floyd
Encyclopedia
Elson S. Floyd is an American
educator who took office as the 10th president of the four-campus Washington State University
on May 21, 2007. He succeeded V. Lane Rawlins
as the leader of Washington State’s land-grant research university. Floyd has also served as president of the University of Missouri System and president of Western Michigan University
.
, a city located about 40 minutes north of Raleigh, North Carolina
, the state capital. He is the oldest of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Elson Floyd. He attended the Darlington School
, a coeducational college preparatory school in Rome, Georgia.
Dr. Floyd holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science and speech (1978), a master of education degree in adult education (1982), and a doctor of philosophy degree in higher and adult education (1984), all from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
.
, Floyd was the 21st president of the four-campus University of Missouri for four years (2003–2007). He was selected to lead Missouri’s land-grant research university on Nov. 11, 2002.
Prior to that, he was the sixth president of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan
, taking office there August 1, 1998, and serving until January 5, 2003. While at Western Michigan University, he also was a tenured faculty member in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology and in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership.
Dr. Floyd spent from 1995 to 1998 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he served as chief administrative and operating officer and the senior official responsible for business and finance; human resources; auxiliary enterprises; student affairs; information technology; university advancement and development; and enrollment management.
For two years, 1993–1995, he was executive director of the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board
, the agency responsible for statewide planning, policy analysis and student financial aid programs for Washington's post-secondary education system. From 1990 to 1993, Dr. Floyd served as vice president for student services, vice president for administration, and executive vice president at Eastern Washington University
, Cheney, Washington
. In the latter role, he was the university's chief operating officer.
WSU’s president started his career in 1978 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he held deanships in the Division of Student Affairs, the General College and the College of Arts and Sciences. From 1988 to 1990, he was assistant vice president for student services for the UNC system office, where he helped develop and articulate student affairs and academic affairs policy for the 16-campus university system.
Dr. Floyd overcame quite the scandal at the University of Missouri where his wife and the assistant Athletic Director's wife, Amy Stewart, were caught via tape providing dating advice and advice on how to take down the Athletic Director, Mike Alden, and Head Basketball Coach, Quin Snyder. The comments attributed to Mrs. Floyd were racial and caused Dr. Floyd considerable embarrassment. Fighting for his career he rebounded from this embarrassment created by his wife.
(ACE) Commission on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness (2004 - ), the Knight Commission
on Intercollegiate Athletics (2003 - ), President George W. Bush’s Advisory Board for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2002 - ), The Darling School Board of Trustees (1997–2000) and the Education Commission of the States
(1993). He also was a Truman Scholarship
Reviewer (1999).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator who took office as the 10th president of the four-campus Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
on May 21, 2007. He succeeded V. Lane Rawlins
V. Lane Rawlins
Veldon Lane Rawlins is the President of the University of North Texas. On November 9, 2010, Rawlins sent an email notification announcing "with sincere enthusiasm and commitment that I agree to be sole finalist in UNT's search for its next president." He is the former President of Washington...
as the leader of Washington State’s land-grant research university. Floyd has also served as president of the University of Missouri System and president of Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
.
Early life and education
Elson S. Floyd is a native of Henderson, North CarolinaHenderson, North Carolina
Henderson, with a population of 16,095 at the 2000 census, is the county seat of Vance County, North Carolina, United States.The city was named in honor of former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Leonard Henderson, who lived nearby and was a friend of early settler Lewis Reavis...
, a city located about 40 minutes north of Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, the state capital. He is the oldest of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Elson Floyd. He attended the Darlington School
Darlington School
Darlington School is an American independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day and boarding school in Rome, Georgia. It offers classes ranging from kindergarten to grade 12, divided into a lower, middle and upper school. The headmaster is Thomas C...
, a coeducational college preparatory school in Rome, Georgia.
Dr. Floyd holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science and speech (1978), a master of education degree in adult education (1982), and a doctor of philosophy degree in higher and adult education (1984), all from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.
Academic career
Before coming to Washington State University, where he is based on the main campus in Pullman, WashingtonPullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
, Floyd was the 21st president of the four-campus University of Missouri for four years (2003–2007). He was selected to lead Missouri’s land-grant research university on Nov. 11, 2002.
Prior to that, he was the sixth president of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
, taking office there August 1, 1998, and serving until January 5, 2003. While at Western Michigan University, he also was a tenured faculty member in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology and in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership.
Dr. Floyd spent from 1995 to 1998 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he served as chief administrative and operating officer and the senior official responsible for business and finance; human resources; auxiliary enterprises; student affairs; information technology; university advancement and development; and enrollment management.
For two years, 1993–1995, he was executive director of the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board
Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board
Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board is a Washington state agency with a 10-member citizen board to improve higher education.-External links:* – Official website...
, the agency responsible for statewide planning, policy analysis and student financial aid programs for Washington's post-secondary education system. From 1990 to 1993, Dr. Floyd served as vice president for student services, vice president for administration, and executive vice president at Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
, Cheney, Washington
Cheney, Washington
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
. In the latter role, he was the university's chief operating officer.
WSU’s president started his career in 1978 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he held deanships in the Division of Student Affairs, the General College and the College of Arts and Sciences. From 1988 to 1990, he was assistant vice president for student services for the UNC system office, where he helped develop and articulate student affairs and academic affairs policy for the 16-campus university system.
Dr. Floyd overcame quite the scandal at the University of Missouri where his wife and the assistant Athletic Director's wife, Amy Stewart, were caught via tape providing dating advice and advice on how to take down the Athletic Director, Mike Alden, and Head Basketball Coach, Quin Snyder. The comments attributed to Mrs. Floyd were racial and caused Dr. Floyd considerable embarrassment. Fighting for his career he rebounded from this embarrassment created by his wife.
Professional and public service
Among President Floyd’s numerous appointments to boards and councils are those to the American Council on EducationAmerican Council on Education
The American Council on Education is a United States organization, established in 1918, comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations....
(ACE) Commission on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness (2004 - ), the Knight Commission
Knight Commission
The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, often referred to simply as the Knight Commission, is a panel of members of the American academic, athletic and journalism communities, with an eye toward reform of college athletics, particularly in regard to practices in recruiting for football...
on Intercollegiate Athletics (2003 - ), President George W. Bush’s Advisory Board for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2002 - ), The Darling School Board of Trustees (1997–2000) and the Education Commission of the States
Education Commission of the States
The Education Commission of the States was founded as a result of the creation of the Compact for Education, an interstate compact approved by Congress in 1965 and currently entered by 49 U.S...
(1993). He also was a Truman Scholarship
Truman Scholarship
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is a highly competitive federal scholarship granted to U.S. college juniors for demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to public service. The scholarship is in the amount of $30,000 toward a graduate education...
Reviewer (1999).
Voluntary pay cut
On November 21, 2008, Floyd asked the WSU Board of Regents to cut his pay by $100,000 in light of the difficult budget the university was facing. Floyd's salary had been increased from $600,000 to $725,000 in August, making his salary $625,000 after the reduction. It is the largest known salary-reduction of a university president. Floyd said he wanted to "lead by example." Two other university presidents gave self-imposed cuts that week as well. As of June 16, 2009, Floyd announced an additional 5% cut to his salary along with other executive board members.Awards
Among other honors, Dr. Floyd received the 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his former high school, Darlington School, in Georgia. He is the recipient of the 2005 Communicator of the Year Award, given by the Mid-Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and the 2004 James C. Kirkpatrick Award given by the Northwest Missouri Press Association for public service.External links
- President Floyd's Blog
- Profile as Washington State University President
- Perspectives from the Desk of President Floyd
- Listed among University of Missouri Presidents
- Profile at EduCause
- Recipient of the Mid-Missouri PRSA 2005 Communicator of the Year Award
- Recipient of the 2004 UNC Distinguished Alumnus Award