WSU Hires Michigan State Administrator

PULLMAN, Wash. — Appointment of Michael J. Tate as Associate Dean of the Washington State University College of Agriculture and Home Economics and Associate Director of WSU Cooperative Extension was announced today by Dean James Zuiches.

“I’m delighted that Dr. Tate will be providing the leadership for Cooperative Extension,” Zuiches said. “His experience as a county faculty member, a statewide administrator, and a university liaison to state and federal government adds tremendous capacity to CAHE’s administrative team.”

Tate, now assistant director of Michigan State University’s University Extension, will assume his new duties in Pullman on July 1. He has 25 years of experience as an extension educator and administrator, including 10 years as a state extension unit head or administrator.

As interim director of MSU’s Cooperative Extension, Tate orchestrated a 7.5 percent increase in the organization’s base budget and led an initiative that secured the first and second largest private grants to a state 4-H foundation anywhere in the nation.

Tate has served since 1993 on the board of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, a member organization of more than 400 statewide and community-based associations and organizations.

He also is a member of the Michigan Community Service Commission since 1992 and is a delegate to the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future, which met in Philadelphia last year.

Tate’s education includes three degrees from Michigan State University; a bachelor of science in food science and human nutrition in 1972, a masters in adult and continuing education in 1982 and a doctorate in extension education and administration in 1996.

“I’m very excited about coming to WSU, and to lead the Cooperative Extension organization there,” said Tate. “One of the reasons I’m doing this is that WSU and Washington’s Cooperative Extension are well respected around the nation as quality organizations of fine people and fine programs. So I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to work with everyone there.”

Tate succeeds Harry Burcalow, who retired in January.

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