William Jasper Hale (September 26, 1874 – October 5, 1944) was an American academic administrator. He was the first president of Tennessee State University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1912 to 1943.

Hale was born in rural poverty in Marion County, Tennessee, on September 26, 1874.^[1][2] He was of mixed race, and was often considered white.^[3] Hale attended Maryville College for several terms.^[2][3]

Hale was a teacher in Coulterville, Retro and Chattanooga.^[2][3] From 1912 to 1943, he served as the founding president of Tennessee State University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee.^[2] Thanks to his efforts, TSU was accredited in 1933.^[2] Hale expanded the campus, with the completion of six more buildings by 1935.^[1] He was succeeded as president by Walter S. Davis in 1943. He fundraised $40,000 for the War savings stamps of the United States.^[3]

Hale was the president of the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools in 1927 and the president of the State Interracial Commission in 1929.^[2] He was awarded the William E. Harmon Foundation Award for Distinguished Achievement Among Negroes in 1930.^[3] He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Wilberforce University in 1936, and another honorary doctorate from Howard University in 1939.^[1]

Hale married Harriet Hodgkins.^[3] They had three children.^[3] His wife was his secretary at TSU, and their three children graduated from the university.^[1][3]

Hale died on October 5, 1944, in New York City.^[2][3] He is the namesake of Hale Stadium on the TSU campus.^[4]