CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH – March 4, 2026: Asian University for Women (AUW) has launched an international search for a new Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer.  The current Vice Chancellor, Dr. Rubana Huq, will retire after having completed a four-year term.  AUW has retained the international executive search firm WittKieffer to assist with the search process.  A search committee co-chaired by Professor John Sexton, President Emeritus of New York University (and an honorary graduate of AUW), Dean Emeritus, and Benjamin F. Butler Professor of Law of New York University Law School, and Dr. Paula A. Johnson, President of Wellesley College (who is also an honorary graduate of AUW) will lead the Search Committee. Other members of the Search Committee include Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Senior Scientist and Director of the Center for Vaccine Science at ICDDR, B in Bangladesh; Mr. Paul Ciampa, a Boston-based former hedge fund manager; Dr. Alpna Seth, a veteran of the biotech industry who currently serves on the board of directors of multiple public biopharma companies in the US; and Dr. Meredith Woo, former President of Sweet Briar College. Drs. Qadri, Seth and Woo are all members of the AUW Board of Trustees while Mr. Ciampa is a member of the AUW Support Foundation Board of Directors.

The Search Committee will present its recommendations to the Board of Trustees for its final decision on the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor.

Recent years have seen a dramatic expansion of student enrollment as well as proliferation of academic programs at the Asian University for Women.  A major grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has enabled AUW to establish a program in the Humanities encompassing History; Literature; Philosophy and Religion.  A new major in Applied Math and Data Sciences (AMDS) is also up and running.  AUW’s first engineering program offering joint Bachelor’s and Master’s in Chemical and Environmental Engineering—will begin in August 2026 with curricular and faculty support from Imperial College London.  The program is being financed by the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark and is being organized for eventual accreditation by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). A state-of-the-art academic facility that will house the science and engineering teaching and research laboratories is nearing completion on the permanent campus of the university.

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The Asian University for Women (AUW), located in Chittagong, is a pioneering residential liberal arts institution committed to the education, empowerment, and advancement of women. AUW delivers a high‑quality academic experience to students from diverse national, ethnic, and socio‑economic backgrounds, with a particular focus on those demonstrating exceptional academic ability and leadership potential.

As AUW enters an exciting new phase of growth, the University aims to deepen its academic offerings, expand its research capabilities, and strengthen its global partnerships. To help shape this next chapter, AUW seeks an outstanding academic leader for the role of Vice‑Chancellor & Chief Academic Officer.

The Vice‑Chancellor & Chief Academic Officer will be responsible for advancing AUW’s academic mission across both undergraduate and graduate levels. Key priorities include building and enhancing academic programs, recruiting and mentoring deans and faculty, establishing rigorous standards for academic excellence, and positioning AUW as a center of innovative teaching and impactful scholarship.

The Vice-Chancellor & Chief Academic Officer will lead a growing international team and create a vibrant and healthy academic and residential environment for students.  In addition, they will oversee a significant facilities development program, ensure stable governance and operations.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary, socially conscious, and empathetic leader with exceptional organizational and communication skills, and a deep commitment to fostering a thriving academic community.

Enquiries can be made, in confidence, to Natalie Derry (nderry@wittkieffer.com) or Jamie Cumming-Wesley (jcumming-wesley@wittkieffer.com) at WittKieffer.

The closing date for applications is Monday, April 20, 2026.