Tate named new USC provost.

The University of South Carolina has named William F. "Bill" Tate IV, the dean of the graduate school and vice provost for graduate education at Washington University in St. Louis, as its new provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Tate, the first African American provost in USC history, was among three finalists who visited the Columbia campus last month and was also among four finalists for the position of university president last year. His selection was unanimously approved by the school's board of trustees, according to a news release from the university.

"Bill Tate is a gamechanger," Bob Caslen, USC president, said in the release."He's the ideal academic leader to inspire our faculty and students, and I'm excited about the vision and passion he brings to our administrative team."

Tate earned a doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in psychiatric epidemiology from the Washington University School of Medicine. He is a past president of the American Education Research Association.

"I'm honored and excited...