Chancellor Douglas A. Girod

Douglas A. Girod became the 18th chancellor of the University of Kansas in July 2017. In this role, he leads KU's mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities and make discoveries that change the world.

Chancellor Girod has established a vision for KU to attract top scholars from around the world, drive economic growth in Kansas and rank among the nation's leading research universities. He seeks to strengthen KU's national standing and advance its role within the Association of American Universities.

Under Chancellor Girod's leadership, KU has achieved record-high enrollment for the past three years, earned the National Cancer Institute's highest designation for the KU Cancer Center and recorded 10 consecutive years of research growth. He has also advanced new models for overseeing student health care. Major initiatives include the Gateway District development project in Lawrence, KU's $2.5 billion Ever Onward fundraising campaign and the "One KU" initiative to better align the university's campuses.

In addition to leading KU, Chancellor Girod served as chair of the Association of American Universities' board of directors from October 2025 to October 2026. He also serves as chair of the Big 12 Conference's board of directors and as a member of the NCAA Division I board of directors and the NCAA board of governors. These roles have positioned him as a national voice on issues affecting higher education.

Previous roles

Before becoming chancellor, Dr. Girod served as executive vice chancellor at KU Medical Center, overseeing the educational, research, patient care and community engagement missions of the schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions.

A head-and-neck surgeon, Girod joined the KU Medical Center faculty in 1994 and became chair of the Department of Otolaryngology in 2002. In that role, he helped advance the University of Kansas Health System's standing in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. He also served as interim executive dean of the KU School of Medicine and senior associate dean for clinical affairs at the medical center.

Chancellor Girod earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of California, Davis, and a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his residency and an NIH research fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. Before joining KU Medical Center, he served as vice chair and research director in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Naval Medical Center in Oakland, California.

Girod served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1982 to 1997, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander and earning the Meritorious Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1997.

Committed to caring for patients around the world, Girod has led or participated in a dozen international medical missions in countries including Uganda, Guatemala, Mali, the Philippines and Mexico.

Girod has served on the boards of the Civic Council of Kansas City, the chambers of commerce in Lawrence and Greater Kansas City, and MRI Global. He has also served on the steering committee for KC Rising, a regional initiative to promote long-term economic prosperity in the Kansas City area. In 2016, the Mid-America Regional Council recognized him with a Regional Leadership Award for his work with KC Rising.

Girod has served as president of the American Head and Neck Society and vice president of the Triological Society, along with other national leadership roles. Among his many honors, he is particularly proud of the 2006 Student Voice Award for Teaching on a Surgical Rotation, presented by students at the KU School of Medicine.

In his free time, Chancellor Girod enjoys spending time with his wife, Susan, and their three children; riding his motorcycle; attending Kansas Athletics events; advising the KU Car Club; and fly-fishing.