Nextel merger and afterwards, he was awarded a severance package that ChiefExecutive.net described as "exceptional:" Forsee's severance package added up to over $40 million, including a $1.5 million salary through 2009, $5 million in bonuses, stock options and restricted shares worth $23 million and an $84,000-a-month pension for life. University of Missouri After resigning from Sprint Nextel, Forsee accepted a position as the 22nd president of the four-campus University of Missouri System on December 20, 2007. He succeeded Gordon H. Lamb, who had served in the position since April 2007. Forsee began his duties Feb. 18, 2008. After taking an extended leave beginning in December 2010 to care for his wife, Sherry, who was diagnosed with cancer, Forsee announced his immediate resignation to the UM board of curators on January 7, 2011. Timeline 2008–2011: president, University of Missouri System 2005–2007: president & chief executive officer, Sprint Nextel Corporation 2002–2005: vice chairman of Domestic Operations, BellSouth Corporation 2002: chairman, Cingular Wireless 2000–2002: BellSouth International 2000–2002: president 1999–2000: executive vice president & chief staff officer 1998–1999: president & chief executive, Global One (?–1998): vice president of sales, AT&T's federal systems division References External links Listed on Business Week 2004 Best Managers December 2007 news release Listed by Forbes as one of the worst CEOs; featured on ABC News; April 2008 Living people Businesspeople from Columbia, Missouri Missouri University of Science and Technology alumni Presidents of the University of Missouri System 1950 births