What begins at UC Davis doesn’t stop at graduation. For these three alumni, it led all the way to the president’s office — shaping the future of higher education at universities across the country.

Meet Ellen Granberg ’84, president of George Washington University (GW); Doug Girod ’81, chancellor of the University of Kansas (KU); and Carol Folt Ph.D. ’82, president of the University of Southern California (USC).

In addition to being Aggies they share the distinction of involvement in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization of 71 research universities — including UC Davis — that collectively help shape policy for higher education, science and innovation.

Ellen M. Granberg ’84 (B.A. history), George Washington University president

A renowned academic leader and sociologist, Granberg is the first woman to lead GW. There she is building on her track record of advancing teaching, research, inclusion and institutional growth.

In her first two years as president, Granberg has made it a priority to meet and build relationships with students, faculty and staff.

“This is an amazing place; I love the students. They remind me of UC Davis students — incredibly smart and very serious about academics but also interested in having a real-world impact,” Granberg said.

“The faculty here are also fantastic,” she added. “I have many wonderful memories of faculty members who had a big influence on me at UC Davis, so I know what it's like when a professor resonates with you as a student.”

GW joined the AAU on July 1, 2023 — the same day Granberg began her presidency.

“To be part of the AAU means that you are one of the top 71 research universities in North America. It’s not just the gold standard of excellence in higher ed, it’s the platinum standard. It’s a meaningful recognition of research done by faculty and it says a lot about the underlying excellence of an institution,” she said.

“Right now, we are the new kid on the block, but I hope over time we will become one of the AAU’s central institutions, much like UC Davis. As we’ve advanced in our AAU journey, I have really enjoyed getting to know Chancellor Gary May.”

Granberg’s leadership exemplifies values she learned at UC Davis. 

“One thing about UC Davis that made a strong impression on me was the wide variety of backgrounds that people came from. The value of learning how to all get along, particularly across political differences, is something I learned there, and it has served me in very good stead all these years.”

She also credits UC Davis with sharpening her critical thinking through writing complex papers for her history degree.

“I learned that complicated things don't come together instantly. They come together iteratively, and it's okay to trust that process,” Granberg said.

Granberg recalls feeling at home the moment she arrived at the Segundo residence halls.

“My parents had just dropped me off and my roommate and I were sitting out on the lawn where they had a barbecue for us. I was looking around, and I already felt at home. I will never forget how that felt.”

Granberg was editor-in-chief of The California Aggie, UC Davis’ student newspaper, where she learned leadership skills that shaped her career.

“The paper had gotten into a lot of financial trouble, so when I came into the role I had to focus on the budgetary side, which I never imagined I would be dealing with, but I discovered I really liked it,” said Granberg.

“I’ll never forget the camaraderie at The Aggie. We would go to Denny's at 2 a.m. after the press runs and relax together. That was an incredibly formative experience for me.”

Douglas A. Girod ’81 (B.S. chemistry), University of Kansas chancellor

A head-and-neck surgeon and former U.S. Navy officer, Girod has led the University of Kansas since 2017. Under his leadership, KU reached record enrollment, boosted research funding and launched a $2.5 billion campaign to support students and faculty. A double University of California alum, he earned his medical degree from UC San Francisco in 1985.

Girod’s path to leadership began early in his career. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 15 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander and earning the Meritorious Service Medal. After completing his medical training and residency, he joined the KU Medical Center faculty in 1994. 

Initially expecting a short stay at KU, Girod quickly advanced through the academic ranks and has now been with the university for 31 years. His combined experience in health care and academic leadership gives him a unique perspective, with a focus on aligning KU’s multiple campuses.

“I saw the opportunity to expand and enhance the university’s impact, both on the state and the local economy, as well as student careers, by getting better connectivity between our main campus and the Medical Center,” Girod said.

At the AAU, he serves as vice chair of the board of directors and will begin his term as chair in the fall of 2025, helping shape national academic research policy.

“The AAU has always held a leadership role in shaping the strategic direction of academic research for the country and its relationship to government and industry,” he noted.

“This moment is probably the most critical time for our organization.”

Girod’s passion for medicine led him to UC Davis for his undergraduate studies.

“I chose UC Davis because of the academic rigor, and because it has veterinary and medical schools,” he said. “That was the environment I wanted to study in.”

A transfer student from a Bay Area community college, he appreciated the support he received when arriving on campus.

“I was not a traditional student. The academic resources and the professors were terrific and helped me with that transition from a community college setting to a very rigorous environment, and that served me well when I went on to medicine.”

He also fondly remembers a few only-at-Davis experiences.

“Other than the fact that there were more bicycles than people back then, I loved Picnic Day, and the Doxie Derby was hysterical. I also had some friends on the horse polo team who taught me how to play,” he said, adding, “not that I learned very well.”

Despite his responsibilities, Girod finds the most joy in student interactions.

“The best part of the job is always when you have a chance to interact with students. It reminds you why you do the work that you do, and they’re always so phenomenally impressive.”

Carol Folt, Ph.D. ’82 (ecology), University of Southern California president

Folt is a renowned environmental scientist whose career includes more than 24 years in leadership roles at several universities. Each has been transformed by her commitment to student success, academic innovation and inclusion. She will retire from the USC presidency on June 30 after six years in the role.

Reflecting on her journey, she credits her time at UC Davis as a foundational influence.

“What was so exciting for me at UC Davis — and what I think has had a huge impact on my entire career both as a scientist and university leader — was the extraordinary interdisciplinary flavor that UC Davis had,” Folt said.

This interdisciplinary approach is at the heart of USC’s “moonshots” initiative that Folt launched to advance work in computing, sustainability, health sciences, affordability and more.

A core value that guides her career is educational opportunity. A proud UC alum, Folt earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UC Santa Barbara and worked as a waitress on the wharf there to pay for tuition and living.

“When I got to UC Davis, there was a real belief that it wasn’t about where you came from, it was about what you brought to the table. It’s something that I’ve tried to promote in all my positions throughout my career.”

Folt’s leadership style emphasizes building bridges. In 2022, she was elected to chair the AAU, where she valued the spirit of collaboration.

“With people from different backgrounds and disciplines, the AAU is really about collective trust. We ask, how do we promote the excellence of the whole higher ed infrastructure in the world?”

After her retirement from the presidency, Folt will join the USC faculty. She says she looks forward to continuing her work as an environmental scientist.

“I care deeply about the future of the planet. I learned that at UC Davis. I have been that person in every place I've worked. In the remaining time of my professional life, I will be focused on ways that I can continue to try to save the planet.”

This passion was fueled in part by her Ph.D. at UC Davis — while conducting research, she resided in Tahoe and worked at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

“An unforgettable experience for me was going out to Lake Tahoe on the boat with an amazing team to do research,” she recalled.

Before joining USC, Folt was chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill and held leadership roles at Dartmouth College. At both, she played key roles in shaping strategic plans to advance the universities’ missions.

“Extending opportunity is huge for me,” she said. “I have a privilege to be in this position, and it’s allowed me to open doors and promote students to be successful.”

“What an amazing opportunity I’ve had to be part of some of the biggest pushes that we can see,” she said.