Black PR Wire Power Profiler on William F. Tate IV, President of Louisiana State University

Dr. William F. Tate IV is a trailblazing academic leader and nationally respected social scientist who is making history in higher education. Upon assuming his new role as the 22nd president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, on July 1, 2025, he will become the second African American president of this public institution. Previously, Dr. Tate made history as the first African American president of Louisiana State University (LSU), where he led transformative advancements in research, student success, and institutional growth.

Born with a passion for education, Dr. Tate’s academic journey spans multiple disciplines, blending sociology, mathematics, education, and public health. He holds a Ph.D. in mathematics education from the University of Maryland. Following his doctorate, he was awarded the Anna Julia Cooper postdoctoral fellowship to study social and public policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He later completed a second postdoctoral fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine, where he earned a master’s degree in psychiatric epidemiology. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in economics, with a minor in mathematical sciences, from Northern Illinois University.

Before his current role at LSU, Dr. Tate served as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of South Carolina, where he held the Education Foundation Distinguished University Professorship. From 2002 to 2020, he was a key academic leader at Washington University in St. Louis, serving as department chair, dean of the Graduate School, and vice provost for graduate education. He also held the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences. Earlier in his career, Dr. Tate served as the William L. and Betty F. Adams Chair at Texas Christian University and was a tenured faculty member at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Dr. Tate currently serves as president of Louisiana State University (LSU), a position he has held since 2021. During his tenure, he has championed significant research advancements, secured increased state investment, and guided the university to record enrollment and graduation outcomes. On July 1, 2025, he will begin his next chapter as the 22nd president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

His numerous research honors include election to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the National Academy of Education, Sigma Xi, and Fellow status in the American Educational Research Association. He also has received several association-related honors, including a Presidential Citation, the Distinguished Scholar Award in Mathematics Education and Distinguished Contributions to Education Research Lifetime Achievement Award-Division G.

In a world that demands courageous leadership and visionary insight, Dr. Tate stands as a trailblazer whose journey is reshaping the landscape of higher education and inspiring future generations of Black scholars and leaders.

Photo by: Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University

Sources: Louisiana State University, Rutgers University, Rutgers University Foundation