USU selects first marketing and communication vice president

On Nov. 19, the Utah State University Executive Office announced that it had hired a third vice president. William Plate, USU’s first marketing and communication VP, will work with other university administrators to improve the university’s image, and marketing and communications strategies.

Plate will also be instrumental in the decision about whether or not USU will resume its tradition of hosting annual TEDx events.

Plate said he is “looking forward to leading this team of talented and creative marketing and communication professionals.”

According to his resume, from 1999 until 2004, Plate worked for Dover Air Force base where he “maintained secret clearance” and managed a government contract totaling almost two million dollars.

From 2009 until 2010, Plate consulted for an online legal platform that eventually “became the No. 1 site for digital law content” thanks to Plate’s advice.

He worked for eight years at Florida Atlantic University and spent five years at Coastal Carolina University as the vice president of university communication and the chief marketing officer.

The hiring process, which began six months ago, has been rigorous. More than 80 candidates applied. In addition to their resumes, candidates were told to write a statement of interest, submit five references, and the final four candidates gave presentations before an eleven-member hiring committee. Although involved with the search, President Cockett was not on the official committee.

The presentations ended on Oct. 5. Surveys were then collected from each member of the hiring committee, and the results were evaluated.

Matt White, the head of the search committee, said that although all four candidates who presented were deeply qualified, Plate has “a wealth of leadership experience” and “experiences that are really relevant to what we want to accomplish here at USU. He really did match what we want to do.”

“In my engagement with Mr. Plate,” White said, “he really exemplified what we see as the values of an Aggie family member: outgoing, thoughtful, and possesses the necessary leadership to move us forward.”

– annie.faerber@aggiemail.usu.edu