Elson Floyd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elson S. Floyd
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| 10th President of Washington State University | |
| In office May 21, 2007 – June 20, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | V. Lane Rawlins |
| Succeeded by | Kirk Schulz |
| 6th President of Western Michigan University | |
| In office 1998–2003 |
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| Preceded by | Diether Haenicke |
| Succeeded by | Judith Bailey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 29, 1956 Henderson, North Carolina |
| Died | June 20, 2015 (aged 59) Pullman, Washington |
| Cause of death | Colon cancer |
| Spouse | Carmento Floyd |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina |
| Profession | University president |
Elson S. Floyd (born February 29, 1956 – died June 20, 2015) was an important American educator. He served as the 10th president of Washington State University (WSU) from 2007 to 2015. He was the first African American to become president of WSU.
Before WSU, Dr. Floyd was also president of the University of Missouri System and Western Michigan University. He was known for being a strong leader and helping universities grow. At WSU, he helped raise over $1 billion and got approval to open a new medical school in Spokane.
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Early Life and Education
Elson S. Floyd was born in 1956 in Henderson, North Carolina. This city is about 40 minutes north of Raleigh, the state capital. He grew up to become a very respected leader in education.
Career Journey
Dr. Floyd began his career in 1978 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, he held several important roles, helping students and managing different parts of the university. He also worked for the larger UNC system, helping to create policies for its 16 campuses.
From 1993 to 1995, he was the executive director of the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board. This group plans and manages education programs across Washington state. Before that, he worked at Eastern Washington University as a vice president, helping to run the university.
Dr. Floyd then became the sixth president of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, starting in 1998. He also taught classes there.
Later, he became the 21st president of the four-campus University of Missouri in 2003. Students there gave him the nickname 'E-Flo' because he was very friendly and easy to talk to. They even made buttons that said 'I heart E-Flo'!
In 2007, Dr. Floyd became president of Washington State University (WSU). This was his third time leading a university. During his time at WSU, he achieved many great things:
- He helped WSU get much more money for research, increasing it from $200 million to $600 million each year.
- He led a huge fundraising effort, raising $1 billion for WSU.
- He helped get a new medical school approved for WSU.
- He increased the number of students at WSU by 17%.
- He helped more students from diverse backgrounds join WSU.
- He opened a new WSU campus in Everett, Washington.
The "E-Flo" Nickname
Dr. Floyd was often called "E-Flo" by students. This nickname showed how friendly and approachable he was. It started at the University of Missouri. At WSU, he was known for sitting with students at sports games. He even gave out his personal cell phone number to students!
Students at both the University of Missouri and Washington State University made "I heart E-Flo" buttons. These buttons showed how much students liked him. When he was sick, WSU students used the buttons to show their support.
Leading by Example: Pay Cut
In 2008, Dr. Floyd showed great leadership during a tough financial time for WSU. He asked the university's board to cut his own salary by $100,000. He wanted to "lead by example" and help the university save money. His salary went from $725,000 to $625,000. This was one of the biggest known pay cuts for a university president. He later took another 5% cut to his salary.
Important Boards and Roles
Dr. Floyd served on many important boards and committees. These included groups like the American Council on Education, which helps leaders in higher education. He also advised Governor-elect Jay Inslee in Washington state in 2012. These roles showed his wide influence in education and public service.
Personal Life
Dr. Floyd was married to Carmento Floyd. They had two adult children.
On June 5, 2015, Dr. Floyd took time off from work because he was battling cancer. Sadly, on June 20, 2015, Washington State University announced that he had passed away from cancer in Pullman, Washington.
Awards and Special Honors
Elson S. Floyd received many awards for his work. He earned the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2004. He also received an award from his old high school, Darlington School.
In 2015, he received the CASE Leadership Award. This is one of the highest awards in education, given for his efforts in supporting and advancing education.
After his death in 2015, Western Michigan University honored him. They named their large College of Engineering and Applied Sciences building "Elson S. Floyd Hall." This building was planned and built while he was president there. It is the biggest building operated by the university.
