Career
William F. Tate IV was born in 1964 or 1965 and grew up in Chicago. [1] He received a Bachelor of Science in economics (with a minor in mathematical sciences) from Northern Illinois University,DeKalb,in 1982,a Master of Arts in teaching mathematics from the University of Texas,Dallas,in 1987,a Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics education (with a minor in mathematical sciences and human development) from the University of Maryland,College Park,in 1991,and a Master of Psychiatric Epidemiology from Washington University School of Medicine in 2011,as well as a postdoctoral fellowship in social policy at the University of Wisconsin,Madison,from 1991 to 1992. [2] During an 18-year tenure at Washington University in St. Louis,Tate served as chair of the Department of Education,director of research centers,dean of the Graduate School,and vice provost for graduate education,while holding the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished Professorship in Arts &Sciences. [3] While on the faculty at Washington College in St. Louis,Tate was elected president of the American Educational Research Association. [4] In 2020,he became Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of South Carolina,where he was also USC Education Foundation Distinguished Professor. [5] The next academic year,he was named president of the LSU system and chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus. [6] He also held the William L. and Betty F. Adams Chair at Texas Christian University and served on the faculty at University of Wisconsin–Madison. [7] On July 1,2025,he assumed office and became the 22nd president of Rutgers University. He is also a Distinguished Professor and University Professor at Rutgers University. [8]
Initiatives
At the University of South Carolina,where Tate served as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost,he launched Carolina Online. It delivered a degree program and a way to earn professional credentials online. This established the Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship program,which enhanced research productivity on campus. [9]
At LSU,Tate launched the "Scholarship First" strategic framework,which emphasized education,research,outreach,and leadership across the university’s campuses. [10] He announced a set of research focus areas called the "Pentagon Priorities," targeting agriculture,biomedical sciences,coastal issues,energy,and defense/cybersecurity. [11] Under his leadership,LSU reported record growth in research expenditures,reaching $543 million in combined activity across campuses,and secured a $245 million philanthropic donation,the largest in the university’s history,to support health initiatives. [11] He also convened a committee of faculty and staff to identify best practices in pedagogy and academic support,while instituting budget measures such as a hiring freeze,consolidation of administrative roles,withholding of departmental funds,and an expansion of LSU Online with the goal of enrolling 10,000 students by 2030. [12] [13] [14]
During Tate's presidency,LSU's Fierce for the Future campaign surpassed its $1.5 billion goal three years ahead of schedule. [15] LSU also reported increased state support for research and other institutional research and academic priorities. [16] While Tate led LSU,the university reported record enrollment across the system,exceeding 55,000 students,and a record number of graduates. The Baton Rouge campus also enrolled its largest first-year class,with 7,494 first-time,full-time students in fiscal year 2024,and reported record entering high school GPA and ACT scores. [17]
LSU athletic programs won multiple national championships during Tate's presidency. The Baton Rouge campus won NCAA championships in women's basketball in 2023,baseball in 2023 and 2025,and women's gymnastics in 2024. LSU Eunice won the 2024 NCAA Division II baseball national championship,while LSU Shreveport won the 2025 NAIA baseball national championship. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
At Rutgers,where he began serving as president in 2025,Tate pledged to expand the university’s national research profile,strengthen partnerships with industry,and prioritize affordability and student access. [23] He also emphasized Rutgers’role as New Jersey’s flagship public institution,noting the importance of sustaining research excellence while navigating challenges related to state funding and enrollment trends. [24]
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