A highly regarded scholar, teacher and university leader, Bernadette Gray-Little began her tenure as the 17th chancellor of the University of Kansas on Aug. 15, 2009. As KU chancellor, Gray-Little is the chief executive officer of the university, overseeing campuses in Lawrence, Kansas City, Overland Park, Salina and Wichita, as well as research and educational centers in Garden City, Hays, Parsons, Pittsburg, Topeka and Yoder.

Chancellor Gray-Little's goals for KU include enhancing student achievement so that more KU students graduate in four years, as well as spurring more research and scholarly activities that enhance quality of life and create economic growth. During her service as chancellor she also has made it a point to meet with Kansans and with KU alumni throughout the state and nation to learn about their aspirations for the university.

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 is also on the board of trustees for the Online Computer Library Center, an international organization dedicated to expanding public access to information and research.

Gray-Little previously was executive vice chancellor and provost from 2006 to 2009 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A professor of psychology, she rose to the post of UNC's chief academic officer after successive administrative appointments, including dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. While at UNC, she earned a reputation as a champion for the highest quality educational experience for students and a strong advocate for faculty and for research.

A native of eastern North Carolina, Gray-Little received her bachelor's degree from Marywood College in Scranton, Pa., and her master's and doctoral degrees in psychology from Saint Louis University. She earned a Fulbright Fellowship to study in Denmark. She also served as a Social Science Research Council Fellow and received a Ford Foundation Senior Scholar Fellowship through the National Research Council.