Bhubaneswar: Eminent horticultural scientist Dr Debi Prasad Ray has taken over as chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University here.
Dr Ray, who was principal advisor to SOA Founder President Dr Manojranjan Nayak, was previously two time vice-chancellor of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar. He succeeds DrKhageswar Pradhan who served as Chancellor of the University since 2011.
Dr Ray, who did his MSc from Calcutta University and secured PhD in 1981, served as Assistant Professor, Horticulture, in the same university. Then he joined as Associate Professor at OUAT and handled several responsibilities including Associate Director (Research), Professor and Head of Department, Horticulture, Dean of Extension Education and Registrar in the same university. He was appointed as vice-chancellor of OUAT from 2006 to 2012.
Dr Ray also served as chairman of several national committees of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Planning Commission of India.
Dr Ray was welcomed at a simple function held at the university on Tuesday. Dr Nayak, pro vice-chancellors Dr Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Dr Gangadhar Sahoo and Dr Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan, professors and senior officials were among others who were present.
