Krea University has appointed Prof Nirmala Rao as its next Vice-Chancellor. Prior to this appointment, she was the Vice-Chancellor of the Asian University for Women (AUW), Chittagong, Bangladesh, between 2017 and 2022.
Nirmala graduated in Economics from Delhi University in 1979. She completed her Masters from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and PhD from the University of London.
She has written extensively on urban politics and some of her books include, 'Re-shaping City Governance', 'Cities in Transition' and 'Governing London', the latter co-authored with Ben Pimlott.
Nirmala has extensive experience of public service and served as an advisor to a range of bodies including the UK Audit Commission and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), UK. She is currently a member of the Governing Body of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, a trustee of United World Schools and Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge.
Kapil Viswanathan, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Governing Council of the Krea University, said, “As an accomplished academic administrator and scholar with international experience, Dr Rao is well-placed to lead Krea University in its mission to help humanity prepare for an unpredictable world.”
On her appointment as Vice-Chancellor, Nirmala said, “It is a great honour to be asked to lead Krea, a prized institution, young, but already ahead in addressing how universities must adapt to provide the students of today with the education that will best prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.”
Krea University is based at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.