President Tate celebrated the Class of 2026 during Rutgers’ 260th Anniversary Commencement on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Rutgers Office of the President
Rutgers
President
“We stand at the edge of possibility, of innovation, of excellence. Together, we have an opportunity to align our efforts and push to greater levels of impact. We can compete and win at new heights if we work together.”
William F. Tate IV, Rutgers President
Campus and Community
President Tate actively engages with the Rutgers and New Jersey communities, celebrating wins and building partnerships with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and regional leaders.
Despite the rain, President Tate made the rounds at Rutgers Day 2026—his first as president—exploring all Rutgers has to offer alongside students, alumni, faculty, staff, and future community members.
Rutgers–Newark celebrated its 80th anniversary, surrounded by students, alumni, friends, and campus partners. President Tate joined the festivities alongside Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson, Board of Governors chair Amy Towers, and others, as they reflected on eight decades of excellence and looked toward the future.
President Tate joined a panel with health care and higher education leaders to discuss the future of pharma and medical technology in New Jersey.
Along with university leadership, President Tate attended the inauguration of Mikie Sherrill, who was sworn in as New Jersey's 57th governor at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on January 20, 2026. The ceremony aligned with the start of the spring semester at Rutgers, signaling a day of fresh beginnings in the Garden State.
President Tate engages with students, fostering connections and understanding during his visit to the Rutgers–Camden campus.
Rutgers celebrated employees during the Staff Service Recognition event at the President's Tent on Bishop Place in New Brunswick. President Tate joined in honoring staff for their 10 to 50 years of service to the university.
President Tate got a front-row seat to the future at Rutgers School of Engineering's inaugural Capstone Senior Design Expo, interacting with students' projects in computing, engineering sciences, and more.
President Tate thanks student leaders at the 5th annual Scarlet Service Kickoff as they embark on their summer civic engagement internship programs with government agencies and nonprofits.
Rutgers President William F. Tate IV joined a CEO panel discussion with other state leaders at the NJBIA 2026 Public Policy Forum. Tate emphasized that stable state funding is critical to keeping higher education affordable and to ensure strong returns for students, employers, and the state.
Nearly 40 members of the Rutgers community were recognized during the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Awards at the Rutgers Club for their service to students and employees, cultivating community, making a lasting difference beyond the university’s borders, and demonstrating work excellence.
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About Rutgers’ 22nd President
William F. Tate IV took office as the 22nd president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, on July 1, 2025.
A nationally recognized social scientist, his research—focused on producing theoretical, epidemiological and geospatial models to understand social determinants of STEM indicators and educational attainment, social stratification, and developmental outcomes—earned him election into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Education.
Prior to Rutgers, he served as president of Louisiana State University, where his leadership team achieved record-setting gains in research, student success, economic impact, philanthropy, and legislative support. He spent nearly three decades in faculty and administrative positions at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Office of the President
William F. Tate IV
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
7 College Avenue, 2nd Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901