CUTN gets new VC in-charge

Trichy: Professor Sulochana Shekhar has assumed charge as the vice-chancellor (in-charge) of the Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Tiruvarur, following the completion of the tenure of previous vice-chancellor M Krishnan.The university said Sulochana is an accomplished academic in urban geography and geospatial science. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Madurai Kamaraj University, securing gold medals in both programmes. Her research had focused on urban growth modelling using cellular automata, slum mapping and urban green space analysis. Her projects have received support from agencies including the Housing and Urban Development Corporation, University Grants Commission and the department of science and technology.She also received several international fellowships, including the Erasmus Mundus Fellowship in the Netherlands, the Commonwealth Academic Fellowship at University College London, the Endeavour Research Fellowship in Australia and the Fulbright Fellowship in the United States. Her publications include 75 research papers and three books, the university said in a release.Before joining CUTN, she served at the National Defence Academy, the University of Pune and the Central University of Karnataka. At CUTN, she held the several posts including controller of examinations, registrar (in-charge), director of IQAC, dean of the school of earth sciences and head of the geography department.