USC provost abruptly resigned. She’s being paid thousands to look for new job
Donna Arnett, the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of South Carolina, abruptly stepped down from her post in July, just weeks before the fall 2025 semester commenced.
The resignation, which was a surprise to faculty, came after Arnett had received consistently positive performance evaluations and salary increases. She had submitted plans for the 2025-26 academic year. Now, she remains a professor on paid leave from teaching.
Arnett formally resigned in a letter to USC President Michael Amiridis dated July 28, obtained by The State through a public records request.
“Together, we have achieved historic gains in enrollment, retention, and student success, while advancing innovative academic initiatives that are now models for institutions across the country,” Arnett wrote. “I am deeply proud of what we have built and profoundly grateful for the opportunity to lead alongside such talented and committed colleagues.”
Arnett did not cite any specific reason for her departure, but she was considering “new opportunities” to continue her “leadership journey.”
“I remain fully committed to supporting a smooth transition and will work closely with you and the leadership team to ensure continuity and stability in the months ahead,” Arnett wrote. “Thank you for your trust, partnership, and support. USC will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to champion its mission and people wherever my path leads.”
How much is Arnett being paid?
When Arnett was hired in 2022, she was paid a $465,000 salary, which included:
- $277,500 for a nine-month faculty base salary of $277,500
- $370,000 for a 12-month faculty base salary expansion
- $95,000 for a provost salary supplement
Last year, she was awarded a $25,000 merit-based raise, which was added to her provost salary supplement, according to an email from Amiridis dated Aug. 15, 2024. By the time of her resignation in August, she was paid $405,185.
According to an employment offer letter dated April 12, 2022, at the conclusion of her service as provost, she would transition to a full-time, tenured professor and be paid on a nine-month basis. To prepare to return as a faculty member, Arnett could choose to take a sabbatical, if eligible, or be released from her teaching duties for the subsequent year.
In a July 28 letter from Amiridis, in which he accepted her resignation, he praised Arnett’s “gracious and professional manner in which you have fulfilled the challenging responsibilities” as provost, a role which oversees all the schools and colleges on the Columbia research campus, including 300 degree programs.
Arnett was told that she was not eligible for sabbatical, and was thus released from teaching and service duties for the 2025-26 academic year. He also gave her the title of “Educational Foundation Distinguished Professor” and awarded her $50,000 in “professional development funding” to restart her research.
She continues to be paid a salary of $303,888, according to documents obtained by The State.
“Donna, I appreciate all that you have done as Provost to advance and enhance excellence at the University of South Carolina,” Amiridis wrote. “I look forward to your future successes as a faculty member in the Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health.”
String of USC departures
Arnett was chosen as USC’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs in 2022. She previously served as dean of the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health and was the associate dean and chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. She was also a past president of the American Heart Association.
Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, a Carolina Distinguished Professor in the College of Information and Communications and previous vice provost and dean at USC, was appointed as the university’s interim provost until at least 2027.
The provost is one of several of high-ranking university officials to leave or transition roles within the university over the last year.
Joel Samuels, former dean of the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, announced that he was leaving for a job as provost of the University of Miami in late July.
Tiffany Foxworth is now interim vice president for marketing, according to the university’s website, in place of Dan Dillon who had just been hired in November 2024. The president’s former chief of staff, Stacy Fritz, was named vice president for student health and wellbeing in November 2024, while also professor in the Arnold School of Public Health. That role is now held by Anna Edwards.
Former athletics director Ray Tanner stepped down in September 2024. Current Athletics Directer Jeremiah Donati was hired soon after.
