Speeches & presentations

Chancellor Girod shares his farewell remarks to the Class of 2018 at the 146th Commencement of the University of Kansas.

On April 4, Chancellor Girod delivered a presentation titled "The University of Kansas: Kansas City's research university" at the KCK Chamber annual meeting. The Chancellor focused on the university's Edwards and medical center campuses, as well as KU's partnership with the University of Kansas Health System.

Chancellor Gray-Little delivered welcome remarks at the 2017 International Association for Social Science Information Services and Technology conference in Lawrence.

Chancellor Gray-Little visited the Kansas African American Museum in Wichita to discuss the unique challenges that women face in the workforce, particularly in the STEM fields.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little welcomed new and returning Jayhawks during the 151th Convocation of the University of Kansas.

KU is proud to host this conversation on the intersection of race and immigration — two of the most important and divisive issues the world faces. Our university appreciates this opportunity to showcase our commitment to being a leader in tackling key issues of our time.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little welcomed new and returning Jayhawks during the 150th Convocation of the University of Kansas. She described KU's sesquicentennial as an opportunity to reflect both on KU's history and its role in shaping the future, and she urged students to challenge themselves and take advantage of the university's community of scholars.

President Barack Obama visited the University of Kansas on January 22, 2015 to give a speech at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion. Prior to the President's remarks, Chancellor Gray-Little welcomed the crowd of more than 7,000 people.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little welcomed new and returning Jayhawks during the 149th Convocation of the University of Kansas. She outlined the possibilities available to students, and urged them to be active members of the academic community.

Chancellor Gray-Little joined area leaders to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle. Among other successes, JCERT has led to the creation of the KU Clinical Research Center in Fairway and an expansion of degree offerings at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park.

Kansas legislators concluded a tour of the state's higher education institutions with visits to the University of Kansas Medical Center and University of Kansas. During the visit to KUMC, Chancellor Gray-Little welcomed them before answering questions during a two hour Q&A session.

Chancellor Gray-Little concluded the 2013 Commencement ceremony with the traditional farewell to the graduating class, discussing what it means to be a Jayhawk.

Chancellor Gray-Little welcomed the attendees of the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes 2013 Annual Meeting during remarks at The Commons.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little testified in support of Governor Brownback's recommended budget for KU during an appearance before the House Education Budget Committee. She said the recommendation will enable KU to meet its responsibilities to students and Kansans.

In the 2013 State of the University video, Chancellor Gray-Little highlights the accomplishments of the past year, as well as the changes the University of Kansas is making to ensure it is recognized as a top tier public international research university.

Chancellor Gray-Little traveled to Blacksburg to deliver the keynote address at the Advancing Diversity at Virginia Tech conference. In her remarks, she emphasized that access alone is not enough and that universities need to shift their focus to success.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little returned to her alma mater, Marywood University, to speak at the institution’s 2012 Convocation. She talked about the related concepts of empowerment and responsibility, calling on students to live up to the university’s core values for the betterment of society.

During her remarks at the 147th Opening Convocation, Chancellor Gray-Little talked about how communities shape our identities, and encouraged students to be active members of the KU community.

Chancellor Gray-Little sat down with Ed O’Malley, president & CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center, for the KLC’s "On the Balcony" teleconference. Joined on the call by participants from around Kansas, the two discussed the values that leaders should possess and talked about ways Gray-Little’s career prepared her to serve KU. A podcast of the conversation is available on the KLC's podcasts page here.

Chancellor Gray-Little spoke to guests at Allen Fieldhouse as part of the kick-off for Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, a $1.2 billion comprehensive campaign that will support scholarships, professorships, facilities and other services at the University of Kansas and The University of Kansas Hospital.

The University of Kansas continues to expand to meet its responsibility to residents and employers in the Kansas City metropolitan area, with the opening of the Business, Engineering, Science and Technology Building at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park being the latest example. Chancellor Gray-Little spoke at the official opening of the BEST Building.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little testified to the House Education Budget Committee about KU’s aspirations for the future. She also discussed how Governor Brownback’s recommended budget would help advance KU’s mission of educating leaders, building healthy communities, and making discoveries that change the world.

The University of Kansas has bold aspirations for its future and how the university will benefit students, Kansans and the world, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little told the Board of Regents today.

Chancellor Gray-Little joined state, local and university leaders to celebrate the expansion of the School of Pharmacy to Wichita and the expansion of the School of Medicine-Wichita to a four-year program.

It is my distinct pleasure to join you as we honor your achievement, and honor the fact that, today, you are all keeping a promise. Indeed, today you're keeping a number of promises, many of which you didn't even know you had made.

Engineering-intensive industries like Sprint – and universities like KU that educate the engineers Sprint employs – will be increasingly important to the state and national economies, Chancellor Gray-Little said during remarks at Sprint headquarters. She took part in an event sponsored by the Diamond Network and WISE, two Sprint employee groups.

Universities directly benefit the economic health and general well-being of Kansas, Chancellor Gray-Little told legislators during a meeting of the House Education Budget Committee. She expressed support for the Governor’s recommended budget and outlined the ways KU can help Kansas return to prosperity.

Research universities are facing a range of new challenges that affect their ability to successfully accomplish their teaching and research missions. Chancellor Gray-Little discussed the new landscape for universities in the keynote address at the Reinvention Center National Conference in Washington, DC.

Chancellor Gray-Little gave an update to the Kansas Board of Regents on actions taken to ensure transparency and accountability in Kansas Athletics.

Chancellor Gray-Little spoke to faculty members about the importance of teaching as part of the KU Summit 2010, which is sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence, Provost’s Office and KU Medical Center.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little took part in The Central Exchange’s CEO Series, talking about her leadership style and the challenges that university leaders face.

The inauguration of Bernadette Gray-Little as KU's 17th Chancellor took place at the Lied Center on the Lawrence campus. Here are her remarks as prepared for delivery with additional photos and video of the speech and from the installation.

In testimony to the House Education Budget Committee, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little outlined KU’s positive economic impact, including the 6,000 graduates it educates each year and the 17 active Kansas companies that are based on KU research. She urged committee members to avoid additional cuts that would harm the state’s ability to be ready for an economic recovery.

In written testimony provided to the Senate Ways & Means Subcommittee on Higher Education, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little outlined how $37.3 million in cuts and unfunded mandates have hampered KU’s ability to provide the educated graduates and research discoveries that will be critical to Kansas’ economic recovery. She urged legislators to avoid additional cuts that would further damage the university’s ability to contribute to the Kansas economy.

Chancellor Gray-Little was the featured speaker at Fort Riley’s event honoring Dr. King. She talked about the importance of service and commended the military for being an organization where all are judged on merit and character, not on race or ethnicity.

Chancellor Gray-Little shared her vision for KU and higher education during a joint appearance with Governor Mark Parkinson and Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz at the Community Foundation of Johnson County’s Champions for Education Luncheon.

In her first Opening Convocation address, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little talked about her life and career, and set out her priorities for her time as KU's 17th chancellor.