For two years, 1993–1995, he was executive director of the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, the agency responsible for statewide planning, policy analysis and student financial aid programs for Washington's post-secondary education system.

Floyd spent 1995-98 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where he served as chief administrative and operating officer and the senior official responsible for business and finance; human resources; auxiliary enterprises; student affairs; information technology; university advancement and development; and enrollment management.

Floyd's tenure was highlighted by: Today or any other day, there has never been a more impactful president at WSU than Elson FloydFloyd was often referred to as "E-Flo" for his approachable style with students.

[8] Buttons were created by University of Missouri students bearing the phrase "I [heart] E-Flo" in 2005, and a similar version of the "I [heart] E-Flo" buttons were created by students at Washington State University on social media to support Floyd in his fight with cancer.

[9] On November 21, 2008, Floyd asked the WSU Board of Regents to cut his pay by $100,000 in light of the difficult budget the university was facing.

[12] On June 16, 2009, Floyd announced an additional 5% cut to his salary along with other executive board members.

[citation needed] Floyd was on the board of the American Council on Education (ACE) Commission on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness (2004–present), the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics (2003–present), President George W. Bush's Advisory Board for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2002–present), The Darlington School Board of Trustees (1997–2000) and the Education Commission of the States (1993).

On November 15, 2012, Floyd was named an advisor on Governor-elect Jay Inslee's transitions team.

"[26] Following his death in 2015, the Western Michigan University's board of trustees voted unanimously to dedicate the previously unnamed 343,000 square feet (31,900 m2) home of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences as Elson S. Floyd Hall.