title: Robert Hemenway
text: # Robert Hemenway
  
  Robert Emery Hemenway (August 10, 1941 – July 31, 2015) was the 16th chancellor of the University of Kansas (KU).
  
  ## Biography
  
  Hemenway was born on August 10, 1941, in Nebraska. He 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 to 1995 and Dean of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma from 1986 to 1989. Hemenway was succeeded as chancellor by Bernadette Gray-Little.
  
  In addition to his duties as chancellor, Hemenway served as Chair of the 18-member NCAA Division I board of directors from 2002 to 2005 and as a member of the board of directors of the American Council on Education. Starting in 2002, Hemenway served on the board of directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
  
  Upon his arrival at KU, Hemenway prioritized making KU a Top 25 academic institution in America, which he continued at an even greater pace in more recent years. In 2007, KU ranked 88th according to the U.S. News & World Report ranking of all national universities (public and private). During Hemenway's tenure, KU ranked as high as 30th (1998) in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of public universities and was ranked 45th in 2005. KU ranks 3rd among public colleges and universities for the number of Academic All-Americans since 1990. Hemenway also made research a pillar of KU, especially in medical fields, and, in 2006, made a commitment to cancer research through the designation of the KU Cancer Center.
  
  On December 8, 2008, Hemenway announced that he would step down from the chancellor position on June 30, 2009, after serving 14 years in the position. He announced that he would be transitioning to the role of faculty member after taking a sabbatical during the 2009–10 academic year, to write a book on intercollegiate athletics and American values. Hemenway was replaced by Bernadette Gray-Little.
  
  Hemenway died on July 31, 2015, from complications of Parkinson's disease.
  
  ## Education
  
  * Hastings (Neb.) High School (1959)
  * University of Nebraska at Omaha (1963), B.A. with Honors, English
  * Kent State University (1966) Ph.D., English.
  
  ## Teaching and scholarship
  
  * Authored "Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography", about the Harlem Renaissance author, which was named one of the New York Times' Best Books of 1978.
  * In addition to serving as chancellor, Hemenway taught English.
  * Professor of English at the University of Kentucky and the University of Wyoming
  
  ## Trivia
  
  * Nicknames: Chancellor Bob (referred to himself as this at 2006 commencement); Uncle Bob (sometimes used by students)
  * Married Leah Renee Hattemer on December 19, 1981.
  