St Stephen’s College appoints first female principal

St Stephen’s College in Delhi appointed Professor Susan Elias as its first female principal on 12 May 2026. She will take charge as the 14th principal of the 145-year-old college on 1 June 2026.

St Stephen’s College

St Stephen’s College was founded in 1881 and is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Delhi. Women students were admitted to the college from 1975, while the principal’s office remained male-led until 2026.

Principal and administrative structure

The principal is the head of a college and is responsible for academic administration, faculty coordination, and institutional governance. Professor Susan Elias succeeds Professor John Varghese, whose tenure included administrative disputes between the college and the University of Delhi.

Professor Susan Elias

Professor Susan Elias is a computer scientist and academic administrator with more than three decades of experience in teaching, research, and university administration. Before this appointment, she served as Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) at Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh from January to May 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• St Stephen’s College was established in 1881 in Delhi.
• The college admitted women students from 1975.
• Professor Susan Elias will be the 14th principal of St Stephen’s College.
• The University of Delhi is a central university established in 1922.

Academic focus and future plans

Professor Elias has stated that she will preserve the college’s legacy and introduce certification courses linked to artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Artificial intelligence and quantum computing are among the major emerging technology fields in higher education.