St Stephen’s College Appoints First Woman Principal in Its 145-Year History

St. Stephen's College has appointed Professor Susan Elias as its 14th principal, marking the first time a woman will head the institution in its more than 145-year history. The appointment will come into effect from June 1, 2026, according to an official notice issued by the college.

The announcement was made by the Supreme Council of St. Stephen's College and signed by Rt Revd Dr Paul Swarup, Bishop of Delhi and chairman of the college. The notice described Professor Elias as the institution’s “first lady Principal,” highlighting the historic significance of the appointment at one of India’s oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions.

The principal’s position at the college had remained vacant for an extended period amid administrative and legal proceedings related to appointments within the institution. The new appointment is expected to bring administrative stability to the college, which has witnessed several governance-related discussions in recent years.

Professor Susan Elias brings more than three decades of academic, research and administrative experience, particularly in engineering and higher education institutions across south India. Prior to joining St. Stephen's College, she served as pro vice chancellor (research) at Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh from January to May 2026.

She previously held the position of director (research) at Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science between October 2024 and December 2025. Her academic career also includes multiple leadership roles at Vellore Institute of Technology, where she served as professor and dean of the School of Electronics Engineering, professor and deputy director at the Centre for Advanced Data Science, and associate professor and head of department in electronics engineering.

Founded in 1881, St. Stephen's College is among the oldest constituent colleges of University of Delhi and has long been regarded as one of India’s premier liberal arts and science institutions. The appointment of its first woman principal is being viewed as a landmark moment in the college’s institutional history and a significant development in the broader landscape of higher education leadership in India.