USU Names First VP for Marketing and Communications

Following a nationwide search, Utah State University has named William Plate as the university’s first vice president for marketing and communications. Plate currently is vice president for communication and chief marketing officer at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, where he has served since 2013.

Prior to Coastal Carolina, Plate was director of university marketing and creative services at Florida Atlantic, where he developed the university’s overall communications and marketing strategy and collaborated on individual plans for the university’s 22 divisions and colleges. 

“Bill has a proven track record of providing successful strategic marketing direction and producing innovative, and effective, communications at two other institutions,” said USU President Noelle Cockett. “USU is one of the region’s top public research institutions with a unique mission in the state of Utah, and Bill is the right person to lead our efforts to best tell that story.”

Plate will be responsible for developing and implementing an overarching plan for marketing and strategic communications at USU that reflects the university’s land-grant goals and that reflects the university’s core educational values.

Matt White, USU’s vice president for advancement who chaired the search committee, said Plate distinguished himself from among an outstanding national pool of more than 80 candidates.

“We had a strong pool of applicants from across the country, and we brought four exceptional finalists to campus for visits,” White said. “We are honored that Mr. Plate has accepted our offer. He has the leadership experience and the proven professional skills to elevate our reputation among constituents and ensure that it matches the actual unique, high-quality academic and research strengths of USU.” 

Plate said he looks forward to fostering a collaborative culture among USU’s marketing and communication constituents and partnering with the greater university community to extend the reach and stature of the USU brand.

“I am honored to join President Cockett’s leadership team,” Plate said. “Utah State’s commitment to its land-grant and research mission, along with its dedication to academic excellence, discovery and engagement, provides a wealth of resources for the citizens of Utah and our global community. USU has an amazing story to tell. I am looking forward to leading this team of talented and creative marketing and communication professionals. My wife and I are excited to join the Aggie Family and make Logan our home.”

Plate received a Master of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University in 2009, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Professional Photographic Illustration in 1999 from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. He is a member of the American Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Education Advancement and Marketing, a peer-reviewed journal written by and for professionals in the areas of marketing and communications, alumni relations, development and fundraising for educational institutions. 

Plate begins work at USU on Jan. 11.