Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced Dec. 8, 2008, that he would retire from KU June 30, 2009. He will be remembered for his efforts to strengthen KU Hospital and KU Medical Center — including separating the hospital from direct state oversight — and setting a goal to achieve designation as a National Cancer Institute. His tenure will also be remembered for the increasing stature of Kansas Athletics. He was replaced by Bernadette Gray-Little, the first African-American and the first woman to be KU's chancellor.
Biographical Information
Full name: Robert Emery Hemenway
Born: Aug. 10, 1941
Age: 67
Family: Eight children, including two with his wife, Leah, and seven grandchildren.
Education: Hastings (Neb.) High School, 1959; University of Nebraska at Omaha, bachelor’s degree in English, 1963; Kent State University, doctorate in English, 1966.
Academic Experience: 1966-68, assistant professor of English, University of Kentucky; 1968-73, assistant and associate professor of American studies, University of Wyoming; 1973-81 associate professor and professor of English, University of Kentucky; 1981-86, chair, department of English, University of Kentucky; 1986-89, dean of Arts and Sciences, University of Oklahoma; 1989-95, chancellor, University of Kentucky, Lexington Campus; 1995-present, chancellor, Kansas University.
Books Published: “Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography,” 1977. Contributed to several others, both as an editor and by writing forewords, chapters and introductions.
Salary as Chancellor: Three months ago, the Regents gave Hemenway a 2.5 percent pay raise, taking his potential salary compensation to $340,352. Of Hemenway's compensation, $267,177 is provided by state funds. The remaining $73,175 represents the maximum he can receive from the KU Endowment Association. When he was hired in 1995, Hemenway was paid a base salary of $160,000 — plus the chancellor’s residence, an $18,500 residential spending allowance, a $15,000 expense account and a leased vehicle.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway's career at KU
Chancellor Robert Hemenway will resign as Chancellor on June 30, 2009.
Hemenway, Sebelius storm press conference
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway deliver a press conference in reference to the March 14, 2006 storm.
Photo Gallery
Photos from Chancellor Robert Hemenway's career at KU.
Photo Gallery
Hemenway announces his retirement
In a press conference Monday, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced he would retire June 30, 2009.
- Hemenways moving from Lawrence to Lenexa
- December 2, 2011
- A former Kansas University chancellor and his wife are moving from their Lawrence home to Lenexa.
- Hemenway fully retired from KU, no longer on payroll
- July 21, 2011
- Two years after the Kansas Board of Regents reached an agreement with three outgoing university chief executives, retired Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway has fully retired from the university and is no longer on the payroll, university officials confirmed.
- Baker wins at buzzer to give former Jayhawk Brett Ballard first win
- November 5, 2010
- The night was supposed to be about Baker University basketball coach Brett Ballard — former Kansas University point guard and director of basketball operations — as he made his head coaching debut. That is, until sophomore guard Sam Kenney stole the show.
- More than $1 million worth of KU basketball, football tickets involved in ticket scam
- AD Perkins: “I accept responsibility. I don’t accept responsibility for anything criminal or any of those things.”
- 01:22 p.m., May 26, 2010 Updated 11:38 p.m.
- Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, Athletics Director Lew Perkins, University General Counsel Jim Pottorff and Jack Focht of Foulston Siefkin are addressing the media at the press conference at the Dole Institute of Politics.
- Room and board rates among other actions regents will take at December meeting
- Hemenway to be named Chancellor Emeritus
- 05:58 p.m., December 10, 2009 Updated 09:33 a.m.
- The Kansas Board of Regents will take final action on a proposed 2.65 percent increase in room and board at Kansas University.
- Life sciences building at medical center to be named for Hemenway
- November 19, 2009
- Former Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway’s name will front the Life Sciences Innovation Center at Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
- KU Med Center honors Hemenway, Sebelius
- October 22, 2009
- Kansas University Medical Center honored two Kansas leaders at its recent annual gala celebration.
- Hemenway awarded Star of Excellence
- October 17, 2009
- Former Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway received Lawrence Bank’s Star of Excellence Award in August.
- A Lew Perkins contract one of questions raised in KU management audit
- Auditor gives university an overall clean bill of health
- 04:39 p.m., September 17, 2009 Updated 05:52 p.m.
- An audit of financial dealings at Kansas University and its affiliated groups found no major problems, but did question an $18,000 per-year contract between KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins and a private company that does business with Kansas Athletics Inc.
- KU management review expected to be made public next week
- September 9, 2009
- A much-anticipated management review of Kansas University likely will be released next week, a Kansas Board of Regents official said Wednesday.
- Hemenway’s compensation package to include $340,352 per year, plus sports tickets
- 07:22 p.m., August 27, 2009 Updated 08:15 p.m.
- Former Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway will earn $340,352 per year during the next two academic years, and will get other fringe benefits, according to a memo from the Kansas Board of Regents.
- His story: Retiring chancellor champions teaching literature
- June 29, 2009
- “Storytelling is powerful, literature is life-inspiring, and narrative is a great teacher,” Robert Hemenway says.
- Hemenway’s legacy
- Many goals achieved in 14 years
- June 28, 2009
- Observers say Kansas University’s 16th chancellor will be remembered for his contributions in medicine, athletics and academics.
- Regents pay tribute to retiring chief executives
- June 25, 2009
- The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday honored Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Kansas State University President Jon Wefald and Pittsburg State University President Tom Bryant, who are all stepping down from their positions.
- Attorney general expects KU audit to be made public
- June 23, 2009
- Attorney General Steve Six’s office said Tuesday that a Kansas University audit should be made public once its finished.
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