[3] He earned a bachelor's degree at Swarthmore College in 1990 and a doctorate in biophysical chemistry at Stanford University in 1995.
[5] During his final years at Kenyon College, Decatur faced challenges related both to labor organizing and transgender rights.
[7][8] In 2022, students demanded that the college publicly support a transgender staff member, Rhea Debussy, who was receiving transphobic threats.
When a statement was not issued, students delivered a list of demands to Decatur's office.
[10] Decatur is married to Renee Romano, professor of history and Comparative American studies at Oberlin College.