Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute president Shirley Ann Jackson has once again earned national standing for her pay.

This time, it's not her $1,771,877 RPI compensation package drawing attention. It's the $1,354,402 she makes by serving on the boards of random companies, virtually all of which seemingly have little to do with her extensive background and impressive credentials as a physicist. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported this week that Jackson was the only college official in the country whose board earnings soared into the seven figures. The next closest was James Plummer, dean of the Stanford University school of engineering, who made $858,805 by serving on two boards.

It's certainly not uncommon for college presidents and top administrators to serve on the boards of companies. Many across the country double or even triple their six-figure presidential salaries by serving on company boards, which typically require only a few meetings a year.

Here's the breakdown for Jackson's board service, by company:

$315,000: Marathon Oil Corporation

$286,835: International Business Machines Corporation

$257,738: FedEx Corporation

$198,650: Public Service Enterprise Group

$194,461: Medtronic Inc.

$101,718: NYSE Euronext

New president on the way

The College of Saint Rose is close to picking a new president.

The months-long search has been winnowed down to just two candidates, one of whom filled in for Mark Sullivan after he suffered a stroke.

David Szczerbacki is provost and vice president of academic affairs at the college and has held those posts since 2004. He served as president from October 2010 to February 2011, while Sullivan was recuperating.

The other candidate is Daniel May of Findlay, Ohio. May is currently vice president for academic affairs at the University of Findlay. May, a Chicago native, earned bachelor's degree in geology from Stanford University in 1978 and a geology PhD at the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1986. Findlay offers courses during the day, and specializes in reaching students of all ages, including at night, on the weekends and online.

If past history is any guide, I'll put my money on Szczerbacki. Schools generally go with the person they know, particularly if they've made it this far in the applicant pool. Of course, anything is possible.

A plea for personal stories

In an effort broaden the content of this column, I'm going to feature more stories on people at local college campuses. In particular, I will be writing about those with compelling life stories or who are involved interesting pursuits on and off campus. If you know someone on campus, whether a student, a professor or a janitor, please contact me.

Got a higher education tip? Reach Scott Waldman at 454-5080 or swaldman@timesunion.com. On Twitter: @518Schools.