Bernadette Gray-Little
Encyclopedia
Bernadette Gray-Little is the 17th chancellor of the University of Kansas
. In this position she oversees the university’s main campus in Lawrence, its medical center campuses in Kansas City, Salina and Wichita, the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, and a number of other facilities around Kansas. She replaced former chancellor Robert Hemenway
in August 2009.
(Scranton, PA) and an M. S. and Ph.D. in psychology from Saint Louis University
. As part of a Fulbright Foundation fellowship, she conducted postdoctoral research in cross-cultural psychology in Denmark. She has also been a Social Science Research Council Fellow and a recipient of a Ford Foundation Senior Scholar Fellowship through the National Research Council.
University of Kansas
Boards and Committees
Gray-Little was one of four university leaders selected to represent the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities at a White House summit on math and science education in January 2010. She has held a number of leadership positions and memberships on a variety of boards and committees, including several with the American Psychological Association. She also served as a faculty affiliate at the Center for Creative leadership from 1998-2004. Gray-Little currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Online Computer Library Center and the board of US Bank.
The first is enhancing undergraduate education, which encompasses the student experience from recruitment through graduation and is designed to raise KU's graduation rate. Based on recommendations from task forces she commissioned, KU is changing the way it recruits students, including providing renewable 4-year scholarships; adding student services geared toward helping students early in their academic careers; and undertaking a renewal of the university's general education requirements.
The second goal involves raising the scholarly profile of the university by removing barriers that may prevent faculty from devoting time to research, as well as providing incentives for research and creative work, such as the creation of the University Scholarly Achievement Awards to recognize outstanding KU scholars. Providing additional support to graduate students is also an important part of this effort.
Gray-Little's third initial goal was to secure the resources needed for the university to achieve its mission as an international research university, and the only Kansas university to be a member of the elite Association of American Universities. A comprehensive fundraising campaign called Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas will have its public launch in April 2011.
These priorities are central to strategic planning and implementation processes at KU and the KU Medical Center,. Combined, these initiatives are called Bold Aspirations.
Bold Aspirations is designed to help the university achieve its mission of lifting students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities, and making discoveries that will change the world.
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. In this position she oversees the university’s main campus in Lawrence, its medical center campuses in Kansas City, Salina and Wichita, the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, and a number of other facilities around Kansas. She replaced former chancellor Robert Hemenway
Robert Hemenway
Robert Emery Hemenway was the 16th chancellor of the University of Kansas .-Biography:Hemenway arrived at KU in 1995 as the successor to interim chancellor, Del Shankel. Prior to his tenure at KU, Hemenway served as chancellor of the University of Kentucky from 1989–1995 and Dean of Arts and...
in August 2009.
Background
Bernadette Gray-Little was born Bernadette Gray in Washington, North Carolina in 1945. She received her B. A. from Marywood UniversityMarywood University
Marywood University is a selective, coeducational, Catholic liberal arts university located on a campus in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Established in 1915 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and currently enrolls approximately 3,500 students on a national award-winning campus...
(Scranton, PA) and an M. S. and Ph.D. in psychology from Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. As part of a Fulbright Foundation fellowship, she conducted postdoctoral research in cross-cultural psychology in Denmark. She has also been a Social Science Research Council Fellow and a recipient of a Ford Foundation Senior Scholar Fellowship through the National Research Council.
Employment History
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill- 1971–1976 Assistant Director and Supervisor, Family Practice Center
- 1971–1982 Professor, Assistant to Full, Psychology
- 1983–1993 Director, Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology
- 1993–1998 Chair, Department of Psychology
- 1999–2001 Senior Associate Dean – Undergraduate Education
- 2001–2004 Executive Associate Provost
- 2004–2006 Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
- 2006–2009 Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
University of Kansas
- 2009–Present Chancellor
Boards and Committees
Gray-Little was one of four university leaders selected to represent the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities at a White House summit on math and science education in January 2010. She has held a number of leadership positions and memberships on a variety of boards and committees, including several with the American Psychological Association. She also served as a faculty affiliate at the Center for Creative leadership from 1998-2004. Gray-Little currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Online Computer Library Center and the board of US Bank.
Priorities as KU Chancellor
At the University of Kansas, Gray-Little initially identified three goals for the university.The first is enhancing undergraduate education, which encompasses the student experience from recruitment through graduation and is designed to raise KU's graduation rate. Based on recommendations from task forces she commissioned, KU is changing the way it recruits students, including providing renewable 4-year scholarships; adding student services geared toward helping students early in their academic careers; and undertaking a renewal of the university's general education requirements.
The second goal involves raising the scholarly profile of the university by removing barriers that may prevent faculty from devoting time to research, as well as providing incentives for research and creative work, such as the creation of the University Scholarly Achievement Awards to recognize outstanding KU scholars. Providing additional support to graduate students is also an important part of this effort.
Gray-Little's third initial goal was to secure the resources needed for the university to achieve its mission as an international research university, and the only Kansas university to be a member of the elite Association of American Universities. A comprehensive fundraising campaign called Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas will have its public launch in April 2011.
These priorities are central to strategic planning and implementation processes at KU and the KU Medical Center,. Combined, these initiatives are called Bold Aspirations.
Bold Aspirations is designed to help the university achieve its mission of lifting students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities, and making discoveries that will change the world.