AUW Management & Administrative Operations
Rubana Huq, Vice Chancellor
Dr. Rubana Huq is the Vice Chancellor of the Asian University for Women. Dr. Huq who earned wide prominence as the first female president of the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA), is a published poet who earned her PhD in Literature from India’s Jadavpur University. Dr. Huq has been a trustee of AUW. She was instrumental in launching AUW’s Pathways for Promise program that enables exceptionally talented workers from Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) factories to enroll at AUW. She was named as one of BBC’s top 100 women in the world in 2013 and again in 2014. Dr. Huq is currently also a Visiting Fellow at the Stern School of Business at New York University and the Asia Center at Harvard University.
David Denis Taylor, Interim Pro-Vice Chancellor
Before joining AUW, David Taylor was for many years at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where he became Pro-Director, Teaching and Learning, from 1998-2002. He then joined Aga Khan University in Karachi as Vice-Provost for Academic Development and worked there from 2002-2008. He also served as Interim Provost from 2003-2008. Later, he was appointed Director of the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London from 2013-2017. He is a political scientist and historian with a longstanding interest in South Asia, which he first visited as a student in 1962.
In addition to his leadership role on the faculty, David teaches an introductory course on South Asian History.
Fatima Mary Sidotam, Dean of Students
Dr. Fatima Mary Sidotam assumed the role of Dean of Students at AUW on July 1, 2024. With a distinguished 35-year career in education, she has served in various pivotal roles, including English professor, Dean of Faculty and Student Affairs, and Student Counselor. She earned her M.Phil and PhD degrees in English Literature from Acharya Nagarjuna University in India. She also holds master’s degrees in English Literature, English Language Teaching, and Psychology.
Dr. Sidotam is dedicated to fostering leadership qualities among students and advocating for gender equality and social justice. She is committed to empowering students to leverage their strengths, seize opportunities, and emerge as future leaders. Her teaching approach integrates gender sensitisation and soft skills development, while also encouraging students to critically analyse issues and develop innovative solutions. Her teaching philosophy emphasises addressing inequalities and promoting understanding across diverse backgrounds, including class, religion and gender.
Naznin Sultana, Director of Finance & Head of HR
Ms. Sultana, Director of Finance of Asian University for Women had started her journey with AUW in 2017. She manages the university’s financial affairs including the internal control management, projects and donor support management, effective fund flow, revenue and budgetary control, ensure compliance and analyzing the information’s for supports the university’s mission, vision, values, and culture.
Ms. Sultana is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB). She did her CA articleship with one of the leading CA firm of the country “KPMG Rahman Rahman Huq”, a member firm of the ‘BIG 4’. She obtained 9th place in the order of merit in obtaining her bachelor’s degree. She is also a certified income tax practitioner (ITP) and a member of Chittagong Taxes Bar Association (CTBA). Besides, she is a social activist, motivational speaker and engaged as an advisor of Mirsarai Education Society. She is the Secretary of Chittagong Regional Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB).
Over the 15 years of her career, Ms. Sultana worked in diversified areas of accounts, finance, audit, compliance and administration, donor management. Before starting with AUW, she served as the key finance person in the Independent University of Chittagong and in a leading national NGO.
Sanaul Karim Chowdhury, Deputy Registrar
Mr. Sanaul Karim Chowdhury is responsible for a series of key administrative functions of the University including Estates, Transport, Administrative Support Services, Student & Community Safety, Security & Protocol, Travel & Transport, External Affairs involving government agencies of foreign missions.
Mr. Chowdhury earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Science from University of Dhaka and High School degree from Dhaka College. He also achieved professional graduation on Special Investigation from FBI Quantico Academy, Stafford, VA, USA.
Mr. Chowdhury is a problem-solver and industrious, who can deserve a good result orientation. He is able to work under no supervision. Mr. Chowdhury possesses strong administrative, analytical and critical thinking abilities.
Mr. Chowdhury served in the U.S. Embassy, Dhaka for 21 years as a US State Department Employee, has extensive work experience over 30 years in the area of Administration, Personal Safety & Security. He has background in fraudulent Investigation and Security Management in international organization.
Mr. Chowdhury achieved Best Employee Award – Foreign Service National (FSN) of The Year from US Department of State, among the employees of 243 US Embassies/Missions worldwide in 2005. He trained as a Special Agent and VIP Protective Detail from Diplomatic Security Training Center (DSTC), Virginia, USA.
Tapu Chowdhury, Assistant Registrar
Ms. Tapu Chowdhury, the Assistant Registrar at AUW, joined the university in 2009 as an Administrative Coordinator and has consistently demonstrated her commitment and expertise across various departments. In 2018, she transitioned into the role of Manager for Events and logistics, where her leadership and administrative skills instigated a transformative change in university services, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. Her initiatives resulted in cost minimization and a significant reduction in wastage, ultimately contributing to heightened levels of student satisfaction. Recognizing her exceptional capabilities, Ms. Chowdhury was promoted to Assistant Registrar in February 2021.
Before her tenure at AUW, Ms. Chowdhury dedicated six years of service to Thai Airways International, where she undertook diverse responsibilities in customer service, ground handling, communications, and operations.
An alumna of Chittagong University, Chattogram, Bangladesh Ms. Chowdhury holds a first degree in Philosophy. She continued her academic pursuits at the same institution, obtaining an MA and completing an M. Phil degree.
In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Chowdhury has actively engaged in community service, volunteering with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society since her school years. Currently, she serves as a life member and an elected committee member of the Red Crescent Alumni Association. She is also a committed life member of the Bangladesh Philosophical Society (BPS).
Ms. Chowdhury has broadened her international exposure through various programs and activities participating in the Women’s Leadership in Asia Program at Ehwa University in 2021, and the International Staff Week 2023, MaGIC International Mobility at Universita di Trento.
Captain Nusrat Farjana Nazia (retd), Assistant Dean of Students
Capt. Nusrat Farjana Nazia (retd) joined AUW in July 2022. She graduated from the Bangladesh Military Academy and was commissioned to the Corps of Ordnance of Bangladesh Army in June 2013. She worked with LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Ltd., the United Nations, and various Bangladeshi government organizations and corporate houses.
Tunazzina Salam, Head of Academic Registry
Ms. Tunazzina Salam joined Asian University for Women in February 2012. She worked as Faculty Support Coordinator to the Dean of Academic Affairs for several years, she undertook responsibilities for revising and updating academic regulations, policies and procedures, quality and standards, and the academic requirements for the progression and completion of degree programs.
In her current role as Head of Academic Registry, she manages leading registry functions – student academic records and academic administration for Undergraduate course registration, Degree planning, Student enrolment, Academic calendar, oversee graduation formalities (from registration to promotion to graduation), Degree verification, course scheduling and provides support to the Academic Actions Committee, Learning, Teaching & Quality Assurance committee and Academic Council.
She has graduated (BBA) in Marketing and Finance and completed her Post Graduation (MBA) in Marketing from Independent University, Bangladesh.
Aparajita Rahman, Librarian
A creative, engaged academic librarian with 5+ years of experience in circulation and reference services, cataloging, and library management. She has substantial knowledge of acquisitions, preservation, interlibrary loans, library management software, library policies, and services. She has additional experience in information literacy, plagiarism, citation, bibliography, and referencing styles.
She completed her bachelor’s and Masters’ degree from the University of Dhaka from the Information Science and Library Management Department. She started her career as an Assistant Librarian in Delhi Public School (DPS) Dhaka and also worked as an Assistant Librarian in International School Dhaka (ISD). She joined as a Library Officer at Asian University for Women and has been promoted to Librarian.
Her role at the AUW library is to manage, organize, evaluate and disseminate information, providing support to members of the academic community including students, researchers and staff to develop their knowledge and skills in information literacy, develop and manage collections of books, journals (both paper and electronic) and websites, select, acquire and catalog information using the library and information software, create, update and manage electronic and printed information resources, cataloging and classification, resource ordering, library loan, IT systems, open access and e-resources, library projects. Her role also involves supporting faculty members and students to develop the skills needed for effective research. This includes areas such as copyright law, information literacy, literature searching, referencing.
She spends considerable time working with electronic resources, involving library database management, assisting researchers with literature searches using databases, printed resources, and the internet, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with academic staff and students, as well as external bodies such as suppliers, take on responsibility, in some cases, for archives and other special collections, deal with user inquiries, which may involve one-on-one advice sessions, manage budgets in relation to allocated subject areas/departments and, in some cases, purchase resources, keep up to date with developments in the library sector and participate in professional groups or networks.