Preeti Aghalayam: IIT Madras Graduate Who Became First Woman to Lead an IIT
Professor Preeti Aghalayam, a chemical engineer, researcher and IIT Madras alumna, created history when she became Director-in-Charge of IIT Madras Zanzibar, becoming the first woman to head an IIT campus. The Zanzibar campus is also significant as the first international campus established by an Indian Institute of Technology.
Aghalayam's journey spans engineering education, academic research, teaching and institutional leadership. She is currently a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Dean of Global Engagement at IIT Madras. IIT Madras Zanzibar now lists her as its former Director-in-Charge, with Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal serving as the current Director-in-Charge.
Preeti Aghalayam: Profile at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Prof. Preeti Aghalayam |
| Field | Chemical Engineering |
| BTech | Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras |
| MS | Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, USA |
| PhD | Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA |
| Historic Role | Director-in-Charge, IIT Madras Zanzibar |
| Current IIT Madras Role | Dean, Global Engagement |
Preeti Aghalayam's Education
Aghalayam studied Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras, completing her BTech in 1991. She subsequently pursued an MS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester, graduating in 1995, before completing her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2000.
Her academic career also included work as a postdoctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a faculty position at IIT Bombay before her long association as a faculty member at IIT Madras.
Academic Journey of Preeti Aghalayam
| Stage | Institution / Role |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Education | IIT Madras |
| Master's Education | University of Rochester |
| Doctoral Education | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Postdoctoral Research | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Earlier Faculty Experience | IIT Bombay |
| Faculty Career | IIT Madras |
| Leadership | Director-in-Charge, IIT Madras Zanzibar |
How Preeti Aghalayam Became the First Woman to Lead an IIT
In 2023, Aghalayam was chosen to head the newly established IIT Madras Zanzibar campus in Tanzania. Her appointment was significant for two reasons: the Zanzibar campus became the first international IIT campus, while Aghalayam became the first woman to lead an IIT campus.
IIT Madras Zanzibar began academic operations in October 2023, initially offering programmes in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The campus brought IIT Madras academic systems, curriculum development and teaching practices into an international setting.
Preeti Aghalayam's Research Areas
Alongside academic leadership, Aghalayam has maintained an active research career in Chemical Engineering. Her listed research interests include:
- Underground coal gasification
- Reactor modelling
- Reduction of automotive nitrogen oxide emissions
- Detailed chemical reaction mechanisms
- Catalytic processes
- Kinetic modelling and reaction engineering
Where Is Preeti Aghalayam Now?
By 2026, Aghalayam had completed her tenure as Director-in-Charge of IIT Madras Zanzibar. The campus entered a new leadership phase with Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal taking charge as Director-in-Charge in January 2026.
Aghalayam continues her association with IIT Madras as Dean of Global Engagement, working on international academic partnerships and global institutional engagement. She also remains associated with Chemical Engineering teaching and research.
Why Preeti Aghalayam's IIT Journey Is Significant
- She is an IIT Madras Chemical Engineering alumna.
- She built a career spanning research, teaching and academic administration.
- She became the first woman to head an IIT campus.
- She helped lead IIT Madras' first international campus in Zanzibar.
- Her academic work continues to focus on chemical engineering and energy-related research.
- She now contributes to IIT Madras' international partnerships as Dean of Global Engagement.
Preeti Aghalayam's progression from an IIT Madras student to professor, international-campus leader and Dean represents an important milestone in the history of the IIT system. Her career also highlights the growing visibility of women in senior academic and institutional leadership positions within India's engineering education ecosystem.
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