The Kent State Board of Trustees announced they will award President Lester Lefton a bonus of more than $100,000 at Thursday’s meeting.

That amount is 25 percent of his base pay of $401,576. After serving as the university’s president for the past five years, Lefton is now the second highest paid university executive in Ohio behind President Gordon Gee of Ohio State University.

Presiden Lefton has “proven to be the right leader at the right time,” said Trustee President Jacqueline Woods.

In addition to the bonus, Lefton’s current contract includes a $70,000 longevity bonus on July 1 that will increase by $10,000 each year he serves as president. The university constitution requires the Board to vote annually on the next year’s president. During the recent meeting, the Board voted to re-elect Lefton for a sixth term as the president of Kent State.

At the meeting, Lefton addressed the board and announced his goals for the upcoming school year.

“Next year is the year of retention,” Lefton said in an address to board members.

In order to increase the amount of students who choose to continue their education at Kent State, Lefton said he plans to make steps toward improving the first year experience of students. Some of those steps include improving campus facilities such as academic buildings and the university library, as well as establishing a new math emporium program.

Contact Summer Kent Stater managing editor Raytevia Evans at [email protected]