Summer 2000: v7n124: Dr. Maxson comes far

The 63-year-old grew up where "there just wasn't any jobs. There was no place to go. It was just a small, rural county. It was just farms. The nearest town was about 20 miles away."

"I have never looked back and said ëI can't believe I've came off this little farm,'" Maxson said. "I've been very lucky. And a lot of it, it's so unplanned. I never had a plan to be a college president. It just sort of evolved."

Maxson earned his doctorate from Mississippi State University in 1970. He has held positions as college dean, senior vice president and chancellor at the University of Auburn, Appalachian State University and the University of Houston.

Maxson held the office of president of the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1984. Then, in June 1994, he became president of CSULB.

Maxson makes $222,240, according to Rick Gloady, director of media relations for public affairs at CSULB.

"I'm not driven by the salary I make," Maxson said. When prodded about if he's worth the money, he responded "I don't know if I'm worth it or not."

According to Ken Swisher, media relations for the CSU system, Maxson is second in pay behind Warren Baker, president of Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo. Baker makes $229,240.

Maxson has helped start numerous programs at CSULB, including the President's Scholars program, which offers $35,000 in scholarships to National Merit Scholars.

Maxson has also helped raise $125 million in fundraising during the last five years.

In November 1994, Maxson was the subject of a Nevada Ethics Commission inquiry that ruled he and his ex-legal councel Brad Booke violated ethics laws and UNLV rules by approving a secret salary package for former Rebel coach Rollie Massimino.

"The contract with coach Massimino was a public contract," Maxson said. "He was getting paid a supplement, which is not uncommon. In retrospect, it probably should have been announced although it would not fall under open records.

Also, Maxson has been accused of bringing down the career of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian during his tenure.

"I've never discussed Coach Tarkanian and I shouldn't discuss him now. Opinions were mixed on the issue," Maxson said. "It was just a different philosophy over how the program should be run."

Tarkanian, the former coach at UNLV and current Fresno State basketball coach, feels differently.

"I don't understand why he turned [on the athletic program]," Tarkanian said. "I got a dozen letters from him saying what a great job I did as coach of the basketball program. But when we went on probation and we kept getting hurt [by NCAA allegations of problems], the inside [Maxson and UNLV] was instigating it. I was stunned when we found out he was behind those things. It was shocking."

Maxson was also accused by the Las Vegas Review Journal of leaving a $10 million shortfall at UNLV when he left in 1994.

"No, that's not correct," Maxson said. "It was supposed to be $1 million. It wasn't a shortfall. One part of the university owed it to another part of the university. And [a performing arts] center was what showed up as a deficit."

Maxson said he would not want to be the president of the United States.

"I've never had aspirations for political office. I think I can do as much here as I could in many political offices. I can't imagine swapping this for a high rise building downtown."

He said he plans to teach at CSULB full time when he stops being president.

"As long as people want my leadership, then I'll stay at Cal State. You should never stay at a place that people don't want your leadership."