On Monday, Naima Khatoon made history by being appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position at the university.
The Union education ministry conveyed that the President of India, in her role as the Visitor of AMU, has appointed Professor Naima Khatoon, currently serving as Professor/Principal at the Women’s College, as the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. Her tenure spans five years from the date she assumes office or until she reaches seventy years of age, whichever comes first.
#NaimaKhatoon appointed #AMU Vice Chancellor, becomes #firstwoman to hold a post in over 100 years. @AMUofficialPRO pic.twitter.com/msnBFI8gFv
— Upendrra Rai (@UpendrraRai) April 22, 2024
Since April 2023, when Tariq Mansoor’s term as Vice-Chancellor ended, Aligarh Muslim University had been without a full-time appointee for the position. Despite this, the Election Commission of India granted permission to proceed with the appointment, emphasizing that it should not be publicized or politicized.
Following the ministry’s directive, Aligarh Muslim University officially announced Naima Khatoon’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor late on Monday evening. Khatoon, who has served as the principal of AMU’s women’s college since 2016, faced initial challenges regarding her candidacy. These challenges stemmed from concerns that she was shortlisted by a committee chaired by her husband, Mohammed Gulrez, who was the acting Vice-Chancellor at the time. However, the petition against her candidacy was dismissed initially, though it remains pending after being re-challenged in the Allahabad High Court.
About Naima Khatoon
Khatoon, an alumna of AMU, pursued her education in Odisha before shifting to AMU for her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in psychology in 1981 and 1983, respectively. She later earned her PhD in psychology in 1989.
Naima Khatoon embarked on her professional journey at AMU as a lecturer back in August 1988. Over the years, she steadily climbed the academic ladder, attaining the positions of Associate Professor in April 1998 and then Professor in July 2006. Her dedication and expertise led her to serve as the Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Psychology before assuming the role of Principal at Women’s College in July 2014.
Her passion for teaching extended beyond AMU; she spent an academic year imparting knowledge at the National University of Rwanda in Central Africa. Additionally, she has held various administrative responsibilities within AMU, including Deputy Director of the Residential Coaching Academy, Deputy Proctor, and Provost at both Indira Gandhi Hall and Abdullah Hall.
Naima Khatoon’s academic prowess is underscored by her PhD in Political Psychology, a culmination of her research conducted at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, and AMU. She has shared her research insights at esteemed institutions worldwide, including the University of Louisville (USA), the University of Alba Iulia (Romania), and Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok), as well as at prestigious venues like the Hollings Centre in Istanbul (Turkey) and Boston (USA).
Beyond academia, Ms. Khatoon is a prolific writer and researcher, with six authored, co-authored, and edited books to her credit, along with numerous published papers in national and international journals. Her expertise spans clinical, health, applied social, and spiritual psychology.
In recognition of her academic excellence and overall achievements, Naima Khatoon was bestowed with the prestigious Papa Mian Padma Bhushan Best Girl Award.
