BATON ROUGE – Keeping his word, President Tom Galligan recognized the LSU 2020 graduates with in-person ceremonies on Friday, May 14, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
“Last spring, we gave you our word that no matter how long we had to wait, we would gather in person to celebrate your awesome achievement and cheer you on as you walk across this stage,” Galligan said. “The wait is over. Your day is here, and after everything we have endured and overcome over the past year, today’s commencement feels even more special to me, and I hope it does for all of you, too.”
William Tate IV Named as First Black Louisiana State University President
(Image: Louisiana State University)
The Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors have has named William Tate IV, Education Foundation Distinguished Professor at the University of South Carolina, as the university’s next president.
Tate will begin his term in July.
“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 in a written statement. “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.”
Parker Executive Search Assists LSU Recruit First African-American President
May 10, 2021 – Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search has assisted Louisiana State University (LSU) in the selection of William Tate as the school’s first African-American president. He will replace Tom Galligan, who has served as LSU president since January 2020. “This is a very pivotal time at our university, from economic, environmental, social challenges, but we are doing great things at this place,” said LSU board chair Robert Dampf. “From our academic achievements, our enrollment, our diversity, I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished. We set about to find a great leader, and we found one.”
Dr. William F. Tate IV was selected as president of Louisiana State University (LSU) on Thursday, becoming the first Black president of any school that is part of the Southeastern Conference. Tate is pictured in a photo provided by LSU on May 6, 2021. (Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College / Eddy Perez)
MSN News
Dr. William F. Tate IV was named the president of Louisiana State University (LSU) on Thursday, becoming the first Black president of a Southeastern Conference school.
Tate, the provost of the University of South Carolina, was selected by the school after beating out two other finalists for the job, University of Louisiana System President Dr. James B. Henderson and Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, a University of Oklahoma professor and meteorologist who served as a science adviser to former President Donald Trump.
William “Bill” Tate as the first Black president in the Baton Rouge school’s history.
Additionally, the former University of South Carolina Provost also becomes the first African American president at a school in the Southeastern Conference. Quite frankly I didn t think this day would come that an African-American would become president in the SEC, Tate said, according to
USA Today of becoming the head of a school that Black students were not even allowed to attend until 1953. Y all made it possible.”
He continued: I m really excited to be part of this community. For me this is all about how we can help students regardless of their background . and give them opportunity to live their dream.