http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 07/-1/NEWS
Ribeau's wife gets $66K job at BGSU
Her duties include going to functions
By KIM BATES
BLADE STAFF WRITER
In the midst of a hiring freeze, the wife of Bowling Green State University President Sidney Ribeau has been selected for a $66,000-a-year job whose duties include accompanying her husband at university events.
Paula Whetsel-Ribeau, a BGSU graduate and former university employee, started work last week after receiving an invitation-only offer to become interim assistant to the vice president for student affairs. The job was offered for one year only based on unknowns about the state budget.
Her job description has a long list of duties, including developing and implementing BGSU staff diversity training, as well as so-called "first lady" responsibilities, such as representing the university with her husband. She and Mr. Ribeau married a year ago.
"I sought her out," her new boss, Edward Whipple, vice president of student affairs, told The Blade.
"I knew she was coming to [live in] Bowling Green," Mr. Whipple said.
He added that Mrs. Whetsel-Ribeau "came along at the right time" because he'd previously lost three full-time employees and a part-time employee, who were not replaced because of what university officials are calling a "selective" hiring freeze.
Teri Sharp, a university spokesman, said the "selective" freeze means new employees can be brought in only after evaluations of need are conducted.
Neither Mrs. Whetsel-Ribeau nor the president could be reached for comment yesterday.
Extending the offer exclusively to Mrs. Whetsel-Ribeau was done in part because of the need to fill the job quickly and because administrators already were familiar with Mrs. Whetsel-Ribeau and her credentials, university officials said.
"She's a known commodity down here," said Becca Ferguson, assistant vice president of human resources. "People knew her, in a sense, before they knew Sidney."
The hiring last week of Mrs. Whetsel-Ribeau comes at a time when the spouses of more and more university presidents are receiving separate salaries - generally for public relations work on behalf of universities. For example, new Ohio University President Roderick McDavis will be paid $275,000 annually for his job, while his wife, Deborah, will make $25,000 for her roles with community and alumni relations, and entertaining on behalf of the university.
Mr. Ribeau makes $286,443 a year. He donated his most recent raise to support college initiatives and scholarships.
Elaine Johnson, the wife of University of Toledo President Daniel Johnson, is not on the university's payroll, nor has she ever been, said Tobin Klinger, a university spokesman.
Mrs. Whetsel-Ribeau, a doctoral student in the leadership studies program at BGSU, received a bachelor of science in education degree at BGSU in 1981. She obtained her master of education degree from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. She was employed previously at BGSU from 1987 to 1990 in residential services. She went on to work at Ohio State University.
Since 1993 she's been with Dublin City Schools near Columbus, most recently as student services coordinator.
Ms. Ferguson said the hiring of Ms. Whetsel-Ribeau will come before the university's board of trustees for official approval at their October meeting.
Sharon Cook, vice chairman of the BGSU board of trustees, said yesterday she did not have an issue with the university's hiring the current president's wife.
"Honestly and truly, I have no problem with it," she said. "She's truly qualified." She is not the first wife of a BGSU president to be hired at the university.
Ruth Olscamp, the wife of former President Paul Olscamp, was an assistant professor of communications disorders at BGSU. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Kim Bates at:
[email protected]
or 419-724-6074.
