NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Neal Tate, dean of the Robert B. Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and Regents Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas, has been appointed professor of political science and chair of the Department of Political Science at Vanderbilt University.
Tate is expected to be on campus before fall semester, according to Richard C. McCarty, dean of the College of the Arts and Science at Vanderbilt. “We were looking for someone who has stature as a scholar and also strong administrative experience,” McCarty said. “What’s appealing about Neal is that he fills all of our needs, having been a department chair, dean of graduate studies as well as an experienced scholar. Neal also has strong interpersonal skills and an ability to get people to work together for the common good.” McCarty acknowledged that Tate’s challenges would include rebuilding a department that has a number of open faculty positions.
Tate, who has spent nearly his entire academic career at the University of North Texas, said he is looking forward to his new position. “I was attracted by Dean McCarty’s positive approach, and how Vanderbilt’s leadership did not want the previous difficulties of the department to mortgage its future,” Tate said. He also noted that he has watched his department at the University of North Texas grow and develop into one with a national reputation for scholarly productivity and quality, so he appreciates the significance of a department with higher aspirations.
Tate earned his doctorate and master’s from Tulane University after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University. He has done extensive research into comparative and American judicial politics. Other areas of academic specialization include Third World politics and the military in politics. He served for two years as director of the Law and Social Science Program with the National Science Foundation while on leave from the University of North Texas.
McCarty credited the efforts of Lee Epstein of Washington University and other members of the external review team for their assistance during the yearlong search for a new department chair.
Sarah Fulton, a Vanderbilt junior who is president of the Undergraduate Political Science Majors Association, was among the students who had the opportunity to meet Tate during his visits to campus. Fulton said she looks forward to Tate creating more stability within the department and providing new opportunities for the students.
Vanderbilt sociologist Gary Jensen has been serving as interim chair of the department and will continue to do so until Tate arrives on campus.
Media contact: Ann Marie Owens, 615-322-NEWS, >annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu</a>