News alert: William Tate becomes LSUâs first Black president
The LSU Board of Supervisors has tapped University of South Carolina Provost William Tate IV to be LSUâs next president and the first Black leader in the universityâs history..
Tateâs selection was announced at 5:05 p.m., shortly after the board emerged from a nearly two-hour closed-door session to discuss the three finalists for the position, who each interviewed earlier today before the board in livestreamed meetings that lasted about 90 minutes each.
Tate beat out University of Louisiana System President James Henderson and former White House policy adviser Kelvin Droegemeier, a meteorologist, by a unanimous vote.
LSU President William Tate IV
LSU appoints the first Black president in the school’s history and who is also the first Black president in the Southeastern Conference. University of South Carolina Provost William Tate IV has been tapped by the LSU Board of Supervisors to lead the system.
“I’m really grateful for it as I reflect historically in my own personal journey it’s a huge moment for me individually just being a president period, but this part of history to me is very special,” said Tate.
Tate was unanimously approved by the board and board member Collis Temple Jr, who was LSU’s first Black basketball player, made the emotional official motion to select Tate.