Karla Leeper named vice chancellor at University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Colleagues,

I am writing to let you know that a member of our leadership team will be leaving the University of Kansas to pursue an exciting new opportunity in higher education.

Karla Leeper, our vice chancellor for strategic communications and public affairs, has been named the new vice chancellor for strategic communication and marketing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. This is a terrific opportunity for Karla, and I have no doubt she will do great work in her new role.

We are working on naming a replacement for Karla in the days ahead. In the meantime, if you have communications or public affairs needs, you may contact Joe Monaco, associate vice chancellor for public affairs based out of Lawrence, or Natalie Lutz, director and chief communications officer at the KU Medical Center. Both Joe and Natalie are attending our weekly University Cabinet meetings to ensure alignment of cross-campus communications during this interim period.

In her time at KU, Karla was an important advisor to me and a partner on our most important initiatives, including the KU Cancer Center building, the Gateway District development and our HLC reaffirmation of accreditation process. Most notably, she helped launch our new brand campaign, “Towering Toward the Blue,” which positions us to communicate the benefits KU provides the state and the world through education, service and research. Please join me in thanking Karla for her service to KU.

Respectfully,

Doug

Douglas A. Girod
Chancellor
University of Kansas