SC State University leader to get $80K raise. Winthrop president to get $51K hike
The leader of the state’s only four-year public historically black college is getting an $80,000 raise.
The state’s Agency Head Salary Commission approved raising S.C. State University President Alexander Conyers to $340,919, which is up from $260,475 a year, according to a state database.
Conyers’ pay was among the eight agency directors salaries approved by the commission Tuesday.
Winthrop University’s President Edward Serna will get a raise to $309,588 from $257,990, according to the university. His last pay increase was in October 2023.
South Carolina’s new director of the agency that oversees the state’s Medicaid program will earn $264,300 a year. Eunice Medina was confirmed as director of South Carolina’s Health and Human Services in February.
That is an increase from her salary of $208,000. Medina previously served as chief of staff and deputy director of programs under previous director Robert Kerr. Kerr’s pay was $286,000 when he retired last year, according to the S.C. Daily Gazette.
South Carolina’s new adjutant general, Robin Stilwell had his pay set at $237,500. That is higher than the $187,000 previous Adjutant General Van McCarty earned, according to state records.
In a letter from Gov. Henry McMaster to the commission, he cited Stilwell’s experience in the National Guard and previous performance and service when asking his salary be set at about $237,500.
The commission set Director of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services Jake Gasdsen’s salary at $170,000.
Rebecca Battle Bryant, who is the state’s first director of the Office of Statewide Workforce Development, had her salary set at $160,000. The workforce development office is housed within the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.
Greenville Technical College’s new president, Larry Miller, who will take over the role in July, will earn $250,000. Outgoing President Keith Miller earns $244,000.
Santee Cooper’s CEO Jimmy Staton is receiving a $236,675 bonus, the commission approved. His annual salary was raised to $1.5 million, up from $1.44 million.
One pay request that was not acted on was to increase Office of Resilience Director Ben Duncan’s salary. Duncan currently earns $140,400 a year, which is $315 above the minimum salary for the job. He has been in the role for four years.
McMaster asked Duncan’s pay be set at $195,000, “to reflect his performance and service to the state,” the governor wrote.
The commission carried over the governor’s request.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: The previous salary for the Winthrop University president was incorrect in an earlier version of this article. The correct previous salary was $257,990.
