KU News Release

Regents appoint Barbara Atkinson as KU’s interim chancellor

Barbara Atkinson

TOPEKA — Today the Kansas Board of Regents appointed Dr. Barbara Atkinson, the Executive Vice Chancellor of the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), to serve as the University of Kansas’s Interim Chancellor, effective July 1.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr. Atkinson throughout my tenure on the Board, and I’m delighted that she’s agreed to lead the university during the important upcoming interim period,” said Regent Donna Shank of Liberal, Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. “Dr. Atkinson is perfectly suited to preserve the continuity of university leadership, and I know that she will ensure a smooth and seamless transition.”

Dr. Atkinson will serve as Interim Chancellor for the period between outgoing Chancellor Robert Hemenway’s departure on June 30 and incoming Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little’s arrival on August 15. Dr. Atkinson will return to her duties at KUMC upon the arrival of the new chancellor and will receive no additional compensation for her new role. She joined KUMC in 2000, was named Executive Dean of the KU School of Medicine in 2002, and has served as KUMC’s Executive Vice Chancellor since 2005.

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