Dr. William Tate IV Makes History As First Black President Of LSU

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Dr. William Tate IV Makes History As First Black President Of LSU

Time to celebrate!

Dr. William Tate has been appointed as the next president of Louisiana State University (LSU). He will be the first Black person to hold the position at LSU and in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The board voted May 6, 15-0, in favor of Tate, the university announced.

“This is a very pivotal time at our university, from economic, environmental, social challenges, but we are doing great things at this place. From our academic achievements, our enrollment, our diversity, I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished,” LSU Board Chair Robert Dampf said. “We set about to find a great leader, and we found one.”

Tate is currently the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at the University of South Carolina. He holds the USC Education Foundation Distinguished Professorship with appointments in Sociology and Family and Preventive Medicine.

He had previously served as dean and vice provost for graduate education at Washington University in St. Louis and worked on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He completed his second post-doctoral training program in the Department of Psychiatry—Epidemiology and Prevention Group at the Washington University School of Medicine, where he earned a master’s degree in psychiatric epidemiology.

In a statement, Tate said he is excited about being part of the LSU system but what drives him is students.

“What I’m really most excited about is I met students here who really are amazing, and for me, this position is all about what we can do to help students and give people access and opportunity in higher education,” Tate said. “That’s really in my DNA; how do we help people regardless of their background – we find the money, get you here and give you the opportunity to live your dream. I think there is no better place in the United States to come find your dream and to make it happen than right here at LSU.”

His first day in office is July 2.

We wish you the best of luck!

Photo Credit: LSU

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