An update on leadership positions

Colleagues,

I hope you are having a productive and enjoyable start to the academic year. With the new semester underway, I would like to update you on two important leadership positions and share a timeline for future announcements regarding these positions.

Last May, I announced Carl Lejuez as our interim provost and executive vice chancellor, and I cited his administrative and leadership skills as central to my decision. Since then, Carl has done terrific work amid challenging circumstances, which includes identifying budget concerns and leading our strategy to align spending with priorities to support core activities.

In light of Carl’s leadership and expertise – and because there is value in stability during such a complicated budget process – I have asked him to continue his interim appointment into 2019. We will engage an executive search firm and launch a nationwide search in late spring 2019 for a permanent provost and executive vice chancellor, and Carl will remain in the interim role until the position is filled. I will share additional details about the search process next semester.

Additionally, our search for a permanent vice chancellor for research is progressing well. We will notify you of candidate visits in September, and we are on track to announce the finalist this semester. In the meantime, I want to reiterate my appreciation for Rodolfo Torres for his ongoing service and leadership as interim vice chancellor.

Finally, I’d like to remind you of the outstanding new leaders who have joined us in recent months, including Jeff Long, director of Kansas Athletics; Brian White, general counsel and vice chancellor for legal affairs; and Mary Walsh, chief information officer. Collectively, these new leaders bring tremendous insight and talent to our university, and I look forward to the work they will do in the days ahead.

Most importantly, I want to thank you – the faculty and staff – for making KU a place that develops and attracts talented leaders. This is a special university with a noble mission, and each of you is central to it.

Respectfully,

Doug

Douglas A. Girod
Chancellor
University of Kansas