Vice-chancellors Sanghamitra Mohanty and Kumarbar Das. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, April 29: While Sanghamitra Mohanty, a well-known professor at the Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, has been appointed as vice-chancellor of North Orissa University, Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, Kumarbar Das has been named as vice-chancellor of the Fakir Mohan University, Balasore.

The governor and chancellor of universities, M.C. Bhandare, took this decision today afternoon after carefully going through their vision document plan for the respective universities. .

A beaming Mohanty expressed her sense of gratitude to Bhandare. Speaking to The Telegraph, she said: “I will certainly try to introduce some new courses in the university, particularly one on the geographical positioning system. With this technology, the remote locations in Mayurbhanj district will benefit immensely.”

An MA degree holder in physics from Sambalpur University, 58-year-old Mohanty, pursued her PhD in the same subject and bachelor’s degree in law at Utkal University. She also holds a diploma in management under Indira Gandhi National Open University. She began her career in 1986 as a lecturer at Utkal University and became a professor in 2001.

She had also got the project fellowship under the department of electronics. Later, she took over the computer science department. During her stint in this department, she focused on campus recruitment drives. Thanks to her efforts, quite a few students were successful in securing jobs with various multinational companies.

Other key positions held by her at Utkal University were the director of School of Women’s Studies, member of the P.G. Council, Academic Council, Senate, Board of Studies, Subject Research Committee, besides being DHE Orissa nominee in Selection Committee of State Universities. She is also a member of the board of studies of Mizoram University and member of the special committee at the Centre for Sanskrit Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

So far, she has published 132 papers in international journals and national and international conferences held in India and abroad. Apart from international participation as referee for international journals and conferences, she organised five similar conferences in the capital. Mohanty’s husband is a retired professor in physics.

On the other hand, Das, with a satisfied look on his face, said: “I am very happy to have been appointed as the vice-chancellor of the prestigious FM University. It will be a challenging task and I shall do my best to take the great institution to newer heights.”

Das, an insightful scholar is in his 60s, was working as the senior most professor and head of RBI Research Centre of Utkal University. He was the head of department of economics, senate member and chief editor of Vani Vikash, Utkal University.

He was also the president of All Orissa Economic Association and has 30 years of experience in postgraduate teaching and research experience in the university. He obtained the doctoral fellowship in Applied Economics from Calcutta University in 1978 and earned his Ph.D degree in 1984.

He did his post-doctoral work at the university of Aberdeen (UK) and university of Bamberg and Troy State University (US).

Das is the first person from the state to have been awarded a D.Litt. degree in economics and has authored 18 books and published 150 research papers in reputed professional journals of the country and abroad.

He is the member of Royal Economic Society, International Association of Regional Science (US), List Society (Germany), LACDE (China) and fellow of the Society of International Development (Italy).

Das is the editor of Utkal Economic Papers, associate editor of Indian Economic journal and also a member of the State Pollution Board.

His research interest includes sustainable development, industrial management, inclusive development, rural development, tribal development, gender issues, poverty, human development, environmental issues, displacement and disaster management.

Our Correspondent

Bhubaneswar, April 29: While Sanghamitra Mohanty, a well-known professor at the Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, has been appointed as Vice-chancellor of North Orissa University, Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, Kumarbar Das has been named as the vice-chancellor of the Fakir Mohan University, Balasore.

The governor and chancellor of universities, M.C. Bhandare took this decision today afternoon after carefully going through their vision document plan for the respective universities. .

A beaming Mohanty expressed her sense of gratitude to Bhandare. Speaking to The Telegraph, she said: “I would certainly try to introduce some new courses in the university, particularly one on geographical positioning system. With this technology, the remote locations in Mayurbhanj district would benefit immensely.”

A master degree holder in Physics from Sambalpur University, 58-year-old Mohanty, pursued her PhD in the same subject and bachelor’s degree in law at Utkal University. She also holds a diploma in management under Indira Gandhi National Open University. She began her career in 1986 as a lecturer at Utkal and was promoted as a professor in 2001.

She had also got the project fellowship under the department of electronics. Later, she took over the computer science department. During her stint in this department, she focused on campus recruitment drives. Thanks to her efforts, quite a few students were successful in securing jobs with various multinational companies.

To name other key positions that she held at Utkal, she was the director of School of Women’s Studies, member of the P.G. Council, Academic Council, Senate, Board of Studies, Subject Research Committee, besides being DHE Orissa Nominee in Selection Committee of State Universities. She is also a member of the board of Studies of Mizoram University and member of Special Committee in the Centre for Sanskrit Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

So far, she has published 132 papers in international journals and national and international conferences held in India and abroad. Apart from international participation as referee for international journals and conferences, she had organised five similar conferences in the capital. Mohanty’s husband is a retired professor in physics.

On the other hand, Das, with a satisfied look on his face, said: “I am very happy to have been appointed as the vice-chancellor of the prestigious FM University. It would be a challenging task and I shall do my best to take the great institution to newer heights.”

Das, an insightful scholar, who is in his 60s, was working as the senior most professor and head of RBI Research Center of Utkal University. He was the head of department of economics, senate member and chief editor of Vani Vikash, Utkal University.

He was also the president of All Orissa Economic Association and has 30 years of experience in postgraduate teaching and research experience in the university. He obtained the doctoral fellowship in Applied Economics from Calcutta University in 1978 and earned his Ph.D degree in 1984. He did his post-doctoral work at university of Aberdeen (UK) and university of Bamberg and Troy State university (US).

The first person from the state to have been awarded a D.Litt. degree in economics, Das has authored 18 books and published 150 research papers in reputed professional journals of the country and abroad. He is the member of Royal Economic Society, International Association of Regional Science (US), List Society (Germany), LACDE (China) and fellow of the Society of International Development (Italy).

Das is the editor of Utkal Economic Papers, associate editor of Indian Economic journal and also a member of the State Pollution Board.

His research interest includes sustainable development, industrial management, inclusive development, rural development, tribal development, gender issues, poverty, human development, environmental issues, displacement and disaster management.