New Delhi/Patna, March 30: Professor Sunaina Singh, vice-chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University in Hyderabad, will be the new vice-chancellor of Nalanda University. She is expected to join her new job in the second week of April.

With her appointment, months after President Pranab Mukherjee reconstituted the varsity's governing board, Nalanda University has got its complete core team.

Professor Gopa Sabharwal, the first Nalanda vice-chancellor, demitted office on completion of her term in November. Since then Professor Pankaj Mohan was functioning as interim vice-chancellor. He resigned yesterday for "failing to uphold the trust" of the varsity community after sexual harassment charges surfaced against a postgraduate student, who has since been expelled.

Sunaina's role will be that of principal academic and executive officer of the university.

"She has been appointed for a period of five years from the date on which she enters upon office," a press statement issued by the university said.

Jaideep Mazumdar, joint secretary (South & Nalanda), ministry of external affairs, sent a letter informing Nalanda University officiating registrar K Chandramoorthi of Sunaina's appointment on last night.

Sunaina, who hails from Rajasthan, has the distinction of being the first Indian woman to head the research institution Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute as its president.

She was appointed vice-chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University in Hyderabad in May 2012. In 2005, she received the post-doctoral faculty research award from the department of foreign affairs, Canada.

She could not be reached on her cellphone. The Telegraph sent her an email seeking her perspective and vision for the university but no response had been received till the filing of report.

Sunaina was recently elected vice-president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for three years. The ICCR presidentis Lokesh Chandra, one of five members of the panel constituted by the Nalanda governing board last month for selection of a new vice-chancellor. The other members of the panel led by Chancellor Vijay P Bhatkar include former bureaucrat N.K. Singh, Arvind Sharma from McGill University in Canada, and Preeti Saran, secretary (east) in the ministry of external affairs.

Asked if rules were flouted in appointing Sunaina, given that she and Lokesh hold senior posts at ICCR, Nalanda University Chancellor Bhatkar said: "I have to check with the ministry of external affairs." But N.K. Singh told The Telegraph from Hong Kong: "There is no violation of rules. Apart from Lokesh, there were four other members on the committee who selected Sunaina as VC."

A senior officer at Nalanda University said on condition of anonymity: "The appointment was made by the President of India. He might have gone through all aspects before giving his approval."

President Pranab Mukherjee, who is the Visitor of Nalanda University, signed Sunaina's appointment letter on Tuesday. The varsity received it on Wednesday evening.