Odisha native Naima Khatoon appointed first female Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University

Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), May 4: In a groundbreaking moment, Odisha-born Naima Khatoon has shattered the century-old glass ceiling by being appointed as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the esteemed Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Her appointment, sanctioned by President Droupadi Murmu, marks a historic milestone not only for Khatoon but also for the university.

With this appointment, AMU joins the ranks of prestigious institutions with female leadership, alongside Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and Najma Akhtar, who served as Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia until 2023.

Khatoon’s achievement holds particular significance for Odisha, as she hails from the state’s Jajpur district. Breaking barriers, she becomes the first woman to hold this esteemed position in the university’s 123-year history. Notably, Begum Sultan Jahan previously made history by becoming the first and only woman to serve as Chancellor of AMU in 1920.

Assuming her role from her spouse, Professor Mohammad Gulrez, who served as pro vice-chancellor, Khatoon brings a wealth of experience to her new position. Prior to her appointment as Vice-Chancellor, she dedicated a decade to serving as Principal at AMU’s Women’s College, starting in 2014.

Khatoon’s journey in academia began as a lecturer at AMU in August 1988. Over the years, she ascended through the ranks, earning distinctions as an Associate Professor in April 1998 and later as a Professor in July 2006. Her expertise in Political Psychology, demonstrated through her doctoral work conducted at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, and AMU, has been recognized internationally.

Khatoon has presented her research findings at esteemed institutions such as the University of Louisville (USA), the University of Alba Iulia (Romania), and Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok), as well as at conferences in Istanbul (Turkey) and Boston (USA).