In research sweepstakes, top private universities are lapping the publics

In announcing the big salary increase for University of Washington President Mark Emmert, making him the top-paid president of public universities, UW Regents pointed out that Emmert could make a lot more as a CEO of a private company. Doubtless true, but a fascinating story in Businessweek points t

David Brewster

David Brewster Jul 7, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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          <article>
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                <h1>In research sweepstakes, top private universities are lapping the publics</h1>
                <h2><p>In announcing the big salary increase for University of Washington President Mark Emmert, making him the top-paid president of public universities, UW Regents pointed out that Emmert could make a lot more as a CEO of a private company. Doubtless true, but a fascinating story in Businessweek points t</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/david-brewster-crosscut-com/">David Brewster</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
            </header>
            <p>In announcing the big salary increase for University of Washington President Mark Emmert, making him the top-paid president of public universities, UW Regents pointed out that Emmert could make a lot more as a CEO of a private company.</p><p>Doubtless true, but &lt;a 07_50 b4062038784589.htm" content href"http: magazine www.businessweek.com&gt;a fascinating story in <i>Businessweek</i> points to a bigger threat to retaining Emmert and keeping the UW's research edge. The story's title explains it well: "The Dangerous Wealth of the Ivy League."</p><p>In announcing the big salary increase for University of Washington President Mark Emmert, making him the top-paid president of public universities, UW Regents pointed out that Emmert could make a lot more as a CEO of a private company.   Doubtless true, but</p>
          </article>

Doubtless true, but <a 07_50 b4062038784589.htm" content href"http: magazine www.businessweek.com>a fascinating story in Businessweek points to a bigger threat to retaining Emmert and keeping the UW's research edge. The story's title explains it well: "The Dangerous Wealth of the Ivy League."

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By David Brewster

David Brewster founded Crosscut. He is now the director of Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum.