Executive Compensation at Washington University

Washington University in St Louis (WU) is a private research university with about 14,000 full time students (8,000 undergraduate and 6,000 graduate). Tuition, room, board and fees for undergraduates is about $70,000 annually or about $280,000 for a 4-year degree.

In 2017, WU reported total revenue of $3.3 billion, of which $2.3 billion came from program services (i.e. tuition, room, board, fees, patient, labs, and hospital support, research, sales and services). Approximately $450 million came from grants, $250 million from contributions, and $300 million from the gain on the sale of assets, royalties, and other services.

Expenses totaled $3.2 million (including $174 million in depreciation) with the largest expense categories listed below:

• $1.671 billion (51% of revenue):  Compensation-related expenses
• $355 million (11% of revenue):  Grants (primarily scholarships)
• $305 million (10% of revenue):  Office-related expenses
• $259 million (8% of revenue):  Medical Supplies
• $203 million (7% of revenue):  Fees for Services

The largest expense – compensation-related costs – consumes about half the revenue WU brings in (which is very much in line with many universities). The $1.671 billion in compensation was paid to 24,030 individuals which equates to an average compensation of nearly $70,000 annually (compared to $74,000 at University of Chicago, $75,000 at Yale, $68,000 at Penn, $64,000 at Princeton, and $46,000 at Georgetown).

3,079 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 29 most highly compensated individuals listed below:

• $2,567,571:  Timothy Eberlein, Chair of Surgery/Dir Sileman Cancer Center
• $1,791,819:  John C Clohisy, DB Viebmann Dist Prof of Ortho Surg
• $1,650,893:  Mark S Wrighton, Chancellor
• $1,311,514:  David H Perimutter, EVC for Medical Affairs
• $1,288,522:  Jack W Wright, Jerome J Gilden MD Dist, Prof of Ortho Surgery
• $1,278,987:  Ralph G Dacey, Dept Head Neurosurgery
• $1,232,760:  Larry J Shapiro, Former Exec VC for medical Affairs
• $1,219,550:  Ryan M Nunlay, Assoc Prof of Ortho Surgery
• $  948,538:  Kimberly G Walker, CIO, resigned
• $  757,556:  H Holden Thorp, Jr., Provost/Exec VC for Academic Affairs
• $  703,621:  David T Blasingaine, Exec VC for Alumni Development
• $  684,995:  Michael Cannon, Former Exec VC General Counsel
• $  557,135:  Henry S Webber, Exec VC for Admin
• $  536,674:  Lori S White, VC for Student Affairs
• $  453,640:  Evan D Kharasch, Former VC for Research
• $  407,446:  Edward S Macias, Former Provost/Exec VC for Academic Affairs
• $  398,122:  Jennifer K Lodge, VC for Research
• $  378,643:  Amy B Kweskin, VC for Finance CFO
• $  369,692:  James Vertusch, VC for Int Affairs
• $  350,655:  Monica J Allen, VC General Counsel
• $  340,936:  William S Stoll, VC for Development
• $  334,114:  Pamella A Henson, VC for Ad Programs
• $  328,606:  John L Gohsman, Jr, VC Chief Info Officer
• $  324,552:  Pamela S Lokken, VC for Gov’t Relations
• $  322,951:  Dedrick A Carter, VC for Operations Tech Transfer
• $  313,898:  Jill D Friedman, VC for Public Affairs
• $  298,783:  Legail Chandler, VC for HR
• $  210,817:  John A Bersi, Former VC for Admissions
• $  180,297:  Ida H Early, Secy to the BD of Trustees

19 of the 29 (66%) of the most highly compensated individuals are male while 10 of the 29 (34%) are female. 9 of the 10 (90%) most highly compensated employees are male while 1 of the 10 (10%) is female.

UW also reports the organization paid for first class or charter travel, travel for companions, tax indemnification and gross up payments, a housing allowance or residence for personal use, health or social club dues or initiation fees, and for personal services (i.e. maid, chauffeur, etc).  To read more detail about these expenses, refer to Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information on the Form 990 (link at the end of this post).

UW made the following contributions to specific employee 457 or defined benefit plans:

• $ 50,000:  David Blasingame
• $ 70,000:  Michael Cannon
• $ 50,000:  H Holden Thorpe
• $ 50,000:  Henry S Webber
• $323,466:  Mark S Wrighton

To read the IRS Form 990 (2016) for the year ending June 30, 2017, click here.