"The commissioner of higher education in Mississippi now earns $366,250 a year after receiving a $16,250 raise. ...
University of Southern Mississippi President Martha Saunders also walked away with a boost in pay - $25,000, an increase the board approved from the USM Foundation. With the increase, she'll now earn $345,500. The total includes a previously announced $100,000 supplement to her state salary of $220,500. She is the third-highest paid public college leader in the state behind the presidents of the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University."Wow," Saunders responded when asked about the raise. "I did not know it was coming today. I am very grateful and deeply appreciate it because it tells me they have faith in me."