If everything had gone according to plan, Dr. Franklin D. Murphy might have made quite a name for himself as a heart specialist in Kansas City, Mo. Instead, he has won a reputation as one of the fastest-rising educators in the U.S. Last week, after three years of watching his spectacular performance as dean of its medical school, the University of Kansas made him its tenth chancellor—the youngest it has ever had.
Bach to Berlin. At 35, K.U.'s new chancellor is an urbane, affable man who reads everything from Rabelais to Runyon, listens to everything...