[This article is inspired by the work of Jon Webb at the Evansville, Courier & Press.]

Topping the list is former president of Indiana State University, Deborah Curtis, at $377,730, and if all ISU administrators and coaches were included, they would hold the top eight spots. For a broader scope we will not include the full list, but provide a link here.

Incoming president Michael Godard will be serving as the 13th president of Indiana State University and has signed a five year employment agreement with a base salary of $360,000.

Honorable mention however goes to former ISU head basketball coach Joshua Schertz who came in at $336,292. All figures were taken from the state’s public information website, Gateway. This list only includes public employees, private institutions and businesses are not included.

If there’s anyone we missed who should have been included please let us know.

1. Deborah Curtis

Job: President, Indiana State University

Compensation: $377,730

Curtis’ resignation will be effective July 1st, 2024 and according to her retirement agreement she will be taking a one year leave of absence at 70% of her current base salary, which at it’s current level would be $264,411.

2. Lea Anne Crooks

Job: Chancellor, Ivy Tech Community College

Compensation: $224,164

Crooks has been Chancellor of Ivy Tech’s Terre Haute campus since 2017, and reached her current salary through a $32,083 raise in 2022 and a $34,208 pay increase in 2021.

3. Ashley Delaunois

Job: Nurse Practitioner, Community Corrections

Compensation: $221,544

Ashley is listed as a psychiatric nurse Horizon Health in Edgar County and does not appear to have been employed by community correction prior to 2023.

4. Jeff Stewart

Job: Director, Terre Haute Housing Authority

Compensation: $202,886

The salaries for Housing Authority directors vary widely around the state, but the average salary for the top administrators at the Bloomington, Lafayette, and Muncie Housing Authorities is $102,198.

5. John Plasse

Job: Sheriff, Vigo County

Compensation: $172,426

6. Gretchen Etling

Job: Chief Public Defender, Vigo County

Compensation: $165,276

7. Thomas Balitewicz

Job: Director of Student Services, VCSC

Compensation: $156,183

Balitewicz was the highest paid administrator in the Vigo County School Corporation and briefly served as the interim superintendent.

8. Jay Umbaugh

Job: Captain, Terre Haute Fire Department

Compensation: $153,707

9. Karen Goeller

Job: Deputy Superintendent, VCSC

Compensation: $152,906

10. Stacy Mason

Job: Director of Secondary Education, VCSC

Compensation: $146,183