The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees gave unanimous approval to a starting salary of $320,000 for President Kristi Mindrup.
She took the position on an interim basis on April 1, 2024, and was named president on Dec. 6, 2024, with the salary to be negotiated.
Mindrup was paid $270,000 as interim president, even though Western’s previous interim president was paid $300,000.
Board Chair Carin Stutz noted that Mindrup asked to be paid less due to the university’s precarious financial condition.
“Women disproportionately sacrifice. And we as a board felt we could not allow that to continue,” Stutz said.
“She’s done the work. She’s already given back quite a bit of money in the interim role, and frankly, she’s earning it.”
Stutz said other universities also face deficits, but none of their presidents have been willing to work for less.
Mindrup’s contract runs through June 30, 2027.
She succeeded President Guiyou Huang, whose salary was also $320,000.
‘The right team’
Stutz praised the work done by Mindrup and her administrative team, including Interim Provost Mark Mossman and Vice President for Finance and Administration Ketra Roselieb, to restructure the university and work toward closing a multi-million dollar budget gap.
“I think as a board, many of us have been here for a few years now, asking for bold decisions that absolutely had to take place,” Stutz said.
“You’re the right team for the right time for Western, and we truly needed that.”
The cost reduction plans have included the layoffs of faculty and staff, and a furlough program for administrative employees who are not part of a bargaining unit. The plans also include closing some facilities, such as this week’s announcement that Waggoner Hall will be taken offline next school year.
Public university presidential salaries in Illinois
Data provided to the board shows the salaries other public universities in Illinois are paying their presidents. The administration obtained the information through Freedom of Information Act requests filed in February 2025:
- Eastern Illinois University $320,000
- Governors State University $350,000 base salary beginning in 2023 with 4.75% annual increases
- Chicago State University $438,000
- Illinois State University $450,000
- Southern Illinois University system $466,256
- Northern Illinois University $480,000
- University of Illinois system $935,105
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
