University of Hyderabad appoints Prof J Anuradha as acting Vice Chancellor

Professor J Anuradha has been appointed as the in-charge Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, with effect from March 13, 2026, according to an official statement.

She takes over from Professor BJ Rao, who stepped down on March 12 after attaining the age of 70. As the senior-most professor at the university, Prof Anuradha assumes the role in accordance with institutional statutes.

An academic with more than three decades of experience, she is also a trained Kuchipudi dancer. She has previously served as Head of the Department of Dance and as Dean of the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication.

An alumna of the University of Hyderabad, she completed her Master’s in Performing Arts in 1990 and earned a PhD in Dance in 1996. She joined the faculty in 1993. With this appointment, she becomes the first woman to serve as in-charge Vice-Chancellor of the university.

Over the years, Prof Anuradha has mentored 12 PhD scholars and authored six publications focused on South Indian art and dance. She has also worked as an expert with the University Grants Commission and served as a resource person for the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

In her statement, she emphasized her commitment to maintaining smooth academic and administrative functioning during the transition while upholding the university’s standards until a full-time Vice-Chancellor is appointed.