Bhubaneswar: Vice-chancellor (VC) of Sambalpur University Prof Deepak Kumar Behera and Prof Govind J Chakrapani of Berhampur University were named as the first vice-chancellors of Rajendra University and Kalahandi University, respectively.
Both Behera and Charkrapani will remain in additional charge of these two new universities for a period of one year or till the joining of regular VCs or till further orders, whichever is earlier, said a Raj Bhawan communiqué.
The state government had given unitary university status to the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna, on March 6, 2019, and Rajendra Autonomous College, Balangir, on March 2, 2019.
Rajendra University has 65 affiliated colleges in Balangir and Sonepur districts under its jurisdiction, while Kalahandi University has 50 colleges in Kalahandi and Nuapada districts.
Chakrapani is at present serving as a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, IIT, Roorkee. After completing his MSc in Applied Geology from IIT, Mumbai, he did his M Phil in Environmental Sciences and PhD from JNU, New Delhi in Environmental Geo sciences.
Chakrapani did his Post Doctoral in Marine Sciences from the University of Delaware, USA in 1991-92. He has 27 years of teaching experience and also academic administrative experience of 23 years by holding several posts and responsibilities.
Behera is an alumnus of Sambalpur University. He had earlier served as the VC of Berhampur University. After completing his post-graduation in Anthropology and Sociology, he got his Ph.D from Sambalpur University.
A former professor and head of the Anthropology department in Sambalpur University, he has 31 years of teaching experience. He has 45 research paper publications to his credit and also authored a book.
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