Douglas A. Girod began as the 18th chancellor of the University of Kansas in July 2017. In this role, Chancellor Girod leads KU's mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities and make discoveries that change the world. 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. In pursuing this vision, Chancellor Girod seeks to elevate the university’s national stature and enhance KU's membership in the Association of American Universities. Under Chancellor Girod's leadership, KU has recorded its highest overall enrollment in university history, earned the highest national designation for the KU Cancer Center, increased research expenditures for nine straight years, and established new medical oversight models for student healthcare services. Most recently, he has launched the Gateway District campus development project in Lawrence, initiated a $2.5 billion fundraising campaign to support student and faculty success, and restructured KU's organizational model to better align the university's multiple campuses. In addition to leading KU, Chancellor Girod currently serves as vice chair of the Association of American Universities board of directors; chair of the Big 12 Conference's board of directors; and as a member of both the NCAA Division I board of directors and the NCAA board of governors. Together these roles have positioned him as a national leader on key issues affecting higher education.