• Dr. Aysegul Timur has been offered a three-year contract as the President-elect of Florida Gulf Coast University, with an annual compensation of $500,000.
• Her contract allows for a four-percent pay increase each year, and the possibility of additional pay enhancements based on performance reviews.
• Compared to other state university presidents, Timur’s salary is lower, with  Richard Corcoran of New College of Florida earning $699,000 annually, and Ben Sasse of the University of Florida earning $1 million per year. 
• Timur’s contract can be directly compared to that of Dr. Moez Limayem, who became the seventh President of the University of North Florida last year — an institution with similar enrollment numbers — who also agreed to a base salary of $500,000 per year.

Dr. Aysegul Timur, the President-elect of Florida Gulf Coast University, had a three-year contract ratified by university trustees that will see her receive $500,000 annually in compensation.

The agreed-upon contract and Timur’s appointment must still be approved by the state Board of Governors at its meeting later this week. As initially reported by News Service of Florida, it was additionally disclosed during the closed-door meeting that Timur’s contract with the institution provides for a four-percent pay rise each year, with the trustees having the option to enhance her pay further following performance reviews.

Timur’s contract places her below the price point of many state university Presidents, including New College of Florida interim Richard Corcoran, who controversially agreed to a salary of $699,000 annually in February alongside $84,000 in housing allowance. The Tampa Bay Times further reported that Corcoran’s contract includes a $12,000 automobile stipend and an annual retirement supplement of $104,850.

The salary figure marks a $400,000 dollar increase over New College’s previous president, Pam Okker, who was ousted in late January following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointment of six new Trustees to the university’s board. Ben Sasse, a former U.S. Senator now serving as the University of Florida’s President, earns a salary of $1 million per year.

Dr. Moez Limayem, who became the seventh President of the University of North Florida last year — an institution with similar enrollment numbers — also agreed to a base salary of $500,000 per year including options for future increases.

Timur, the current Vice President and Vice Provost of Strategy and Program Innovation for FGCU since 2019, was voted to succeed outgoing president Mike Martin by a one-vote margin over fellow finalist Dr. Henry Mack.

In her cover letter, she outlined a university roadmap predicated on enhancing its regional presence within Southwest Florida through entrepreneurial partnership and continued research.

“FGCU is not a system unto itself; rather, it is a key driver of the region’s – and the state’s – inter-related educational, economic, and cultural systems,” wrote Timur. “Our job is to provide expertise and educational opportunities to everyone, because education is a long-term investment in human capital, and human capital will drive economic prosperity and sustainability in the region and beyond.”

Timur notably played a role in accruing nearly $23 million in federal funding for the university to enhance systems for coordinated regional workforce development.