COLUMBIA, S.C. — The race to become the next University of south Carolina president is in full swing this week as all four finalists are set to speak to students and faculty.
On Monday, UofSC students and faculty heard from Dr. Joseph Walsh from Northwestern University. Tuesday was Dr. William Tate’s turn to share his vision for the university going forward.
Tate currently serves as the graduate school dean and vice provost for Eeducation at Washington University in St. Louis.
UofSC students also got a chance to ask Tate questions ranging from sustainability on campus to more outreach programs for high school and middle school students during the summer months.
"A lot of high school students, they usually sit at home during the summer, there is an opportunity here to create opportunities for students to make them realize this is a great opportunity for them,” Tate said.
If selected, Tate would be the first African American president in the school’s history.
Students say his vision and personality are very familiar.
"I see that he really does value his student reaction and that’s why Dr. Pastides was so beloved," says Darius York, a freshman at the school."We could have regular conversation and I feel like Dr. Tate will have that same energy.”
Robert Caslyn from the University of Central Florida is the next candidate to speak while he's at the university Wednesday.