The new leader: The Smithsonian Institution, beleaguered by questions over how much it pays its executives and how they spend the organization's money, said Saturday that it has picked highly regarded Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough as its new leader.
Georgia Tech president takes over Smithsonian reeling from scandal
March 15, 2008 at 10:43PM
Who is he? Clough, (pronounced "CLOFF"), 66, has served as president of Georgia Tech since 1994 and is credited with transforming the Atlanta school into a top 10 public university, boosting spending on research and raising nearly $1.5 billion.
The task ahead: He must restore stability to an institution that is struggling with a $2.5 billion shortfall, crumbling buildings and the repercussions of last year's scandal. His predecessor, Lawrence Small, stepped down after revelations that he was spending Smithsonian funds on chauffeured cars, private jets and catered meals. The Smithsonian gets 70 percent of its $1 billion operating budget from the federal government, and Congress has been pressing the organization to raise more of its own funds.
A matter of money: Clough's annual salary will be $490,000; Small's salary soared to more than $900,000 in his seven-year tenure. Clough noted Saturday: "I'm used to flying in Seat 29E. Obviously, if I can accumulate the mileage, I upgrade."
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His political views differed from a transgender classmate’s, but they forged a bond that lasted a decade — until Vance seemed to pivot, politically and personally.
