Naima Khatoon appointed AMU Vice Chancellor, becomes first woman to hold post in over 100 years

NEW DELHI: Naima Khatoon has been appointed as vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. With this, she becomes the first woman to hold the post in over 100 years.

After obtaining approval from President Droupadi Murmu, who serves as the University's Visitor, Khatoon's appointment as Vice Chancellor of AMU was confirmed. This confirmation also involved seeking permission from the Election Commission of India due to the Model Code of Conduct being enforced.

"Naima Khatoon, formerly the Principal of Women's College, has been selected as the Vice Chancellor of AMU for a five-year term. The Election Commission of India has indicated no objections to the appointment concerning the Model Code of Conduct, provided it is not exploited for political purposes," a source disclosed.

Khatoon, who earned her PhD in psychology from AMU, began her career as a lecturer in the same department in 1988. Over the years, she rose to the position of professor in 2006 and later served as the principal of the Women's College from 2014.

Established in 1875, Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was later transformed into AMU in 1920 through the Aligarh Muslim University Act.

In September 2020, AMU commemorated its centennial anniversary, marking a century of its existence as a university and positioning itself as one of India's oldest. Despite its long history, the university had never appointed a woman as Vice Chancellor.

Begum Sultan Jahan became the first and only woman to hold the position of Chancellor at AMU in 1920, a role she retained until now.