The official university seal is worn by the Chancellor during Commencement.

Office of the Chancellor

Douglas A. Girod is the 18th chancellor of the University of Kansas. In this role, Chancellor Girod leads KU's mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities and make discoveries that change the world.

Chancellor's State of the University Address

Chancellor Girod delivered his State of the University Address on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. Topics included enrollment, research, healthcare access for Kansans, the "One KU" initiative, the Lawrence campus budget, economic development, Kansas Athletics, fundraising and more.

Chancellor's Messages

Continuing our efforts related to executive orders and federal guidance

In light of the February 14 Dear Colleague Letter from the U.S. Department of Education, KU’s leadership team is assessing all university activity pertaining to “admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life," as called for in the letter.

A statement about last night's plane crash

Chancellor Girod offers a statement of condolence for those impacted by last night's tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C.

Advancing our One KU initiative

Chancellor Girod provides an update on the “One KU” initiative, which strives to better align KU campuses and position faculty and staff to work more collaboratively.

KU sets all-time marks for freshman class size, overall enrollment

Earlier today, the Kansas Board of Regents released annual data confirming that KU has both its largest freshman class and its highest overall enrollment in history.

Chancellor Douglas A. Girod

Chancellor Girod has established a bold vision for the University of Kansas to be a destination for top scholars from across the world, an engine of economic growth for Kansas, and one of the nation’s leading research universities.
Douglas Girod in his living room having a discussion about KU

Chancellor's Weekly Video Update

Chancellor Girod is hosting weekly Zoom updates to discuss the latest happenings at KU. The discussions are pre-recorded and shared with campus each Wednesday.
Douglas Girod filming a video in front of a green screen in Budig Hall.

Invite the Chancellor to your event

Chancellor Girod strives to attend as many campus events as possible.
Appearance Request Form
Chancellor Douglas A. Girod

"The work we do at KU changes lives and improves the world in meaningful ways. I look forward to collaborating with students, faculty, staff and KU supporters everywhere to continue this work on behalf of the state and society we serve."


Douglas A. Girod
Chancellor