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Preeti Aghalayam: First Woman to Lead an IIT, From Student to Director Abroad
M
Moneycontrol•30-09-2026, 13:25
Preeti Aghalayam: First Woman to Lead an IIT, From Student to Director Abroad
- •Preeti Aghalayam, an IIT Madras alumna, has been appointed director-in-charge of IIT Madras Zanzibar, becoming the first woman to lead an IIT.
- •Her journey with IIT Madras spans over three decades, starting as a chemical engineering student in 1991.
- •Aghalayam's career includes higher studies in the US, faculty positions at IIT Bombay and IIT Madras, and now a leadership role in establishing an international IIT campus.
- •IIT Madras Zanzibar welcomed its first students in October 2023, offering programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
- •Currently, Aghalayam serves as the Dean of the Office of Global Engagement at IIT Madras and remains associated with IIT Madras Zanzibar.
Key Questions Answered
Preeti Aghalayam was appointed director-in-charge of IIT Madras Zanzibar in July 2023, making her the first woman to lead an IIT.
IIT Madras Zanzibar began its academic classes in October 2023, offering initial programmes that included Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
She completed her PhD at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2000 after earning her master's degree from the University of Rochester.
