Staff Reporter / Aligarh

Prof. Naima Khatoon has been appointed as Aligarh Muslim University’s Vice Chancellor for the next 5 years. She is the first woman to hold post in over 100 years.

Before Khatoon, the only woman to have held a top post at AMU was Begum Sultan Jahan who was appointed the Chancellor in 1920. Khatoon was appointed on Monday after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu, who is Visitor to the Aligarh Muslim University.

According to the official AMU notification, Naima Khatoon, Principal, Women’s College, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of AMU for a period of five years or the date on which she completes 75 years of age, whichever is earlier.

The notification also mentioned that the university had sought permission from the Election Commission of India in view of the imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) due to the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Khatoon’s candidature for the post of VC was challenged in the Allahabad high court in November 2023. This was done on the grounds that her name was shortlisted by a committee headed by her husband Mohammed Gulrez, who was serving as the acting V-C of the university. The petition was, however, dismissed.

Prof. Naima Khatoon served as Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Psychology before joining as Principal, Women’s College in July 2014. She was Professor since July 2006, Associate Professor since April 1998 and lecturer since August 1988. She also taught in the National University of Rwanda, Central Africa for one academic year.

Professor Naima Khatoon holds a PhD degree in Political Psychology for which she worked at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University. She is presently appointed as Director, Centre for Skill Development & Career Planning, AMU, Aligarh since Oct, 2015. She has attended and presented papers in numerous National & International conferences She has also visited and delivered lectures in the University of Louis Ville, USA, University of Alba Lulia, Romania, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, Hollings Centre, Istanbul, Turkey and Hollings Centre for International Dialogue, Boston, USA.

She has authored/co-authored/edited six books and published a number of papers in the Journals of National and International repute. She has supervised fifteen Ph.D. theses and a large number of dissertations. Her area of specialization is in the field of Clinical, Health, Applied Social and Spiritual Psychology. She also served as the Deputy Coordinator of UGC assisted Special Assistance Program on Spiritual Psychology in the Department of Psychology, AMU.

Apart from academics, Prof. Naima Khatoon has vast experience in Educational Administration. She served as Provost in Indira Gandhi Hall and twice in Abdullah Hall. She also served as Deputy Director, Residential Coaching Academy and Deputy Proctor of AMU. She was elected twice to the Women’s College Student Union. She has also held the post of Literary Secretary and Senior Hall Monitor of both Abdullah Hall and Sarojini Naidu Hall. She was awarded the Papa Mian Padma Bhushan Best Girl Award for all-around excellence.