Professor Susan Elias first woman principal St. Stephen's College will take charge as principal on June 1, 2026 . The college named her its 15th principal in a notice issued by chairman Reverend Paul Swarup.
The chairman’s notice said the supreme council of the college “is pleased to announce that Professor Susan Elias will take charge as the 15th principal of the college and as its first lady principal.” St. Stephen’s College was established in 1881 .
Susan Elias first woman principal St. Stephen's College — appointment details
The governing body had invited proposals from “agencies of international repute” in December 2025 to identify candidates for the top job. Elias succeeds John Varghese, who served two terms as principal.
The change of leadership comes amid campus tensions. Teachers from the physics department recently moved the Delhi High Court and secured a stay against new appointments made by the outgoing principal. That stay may affect administrative moves after Elias takes charge.
Susan Elias first woman principal St. Stephen's College — academic and career profile
Elias is an engineer by training. She holds a BTech in computer science engineering from Madras University and a master’s and PhD in multimedia technology from Anna University. She was a post-doctoral fellow at IIT Madras.
Her teaching and leadership record runs across several institutions. She began as a lecturer at Dr MGR Engineering College, Chennai. She spent 19 years as professor and HOD at Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, then worked for 8 years at VIT Vellore.
Elias has also served as research director at Hindustan University. Most recently, she joined Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, as pro-vice chancellor in January 2026 .
What this means for students and staff
Elias formally takes office on June 1, 2026 . For students, administrative continuity and any upcoming academic or admission-related announcements will depend on how the new principal and the college council handle pending matters, including the court stay.
The appointment marks a historic first for the institution and follows a formal, externally assisted search process. Further details on Elias’s agenda, tenure terms, or reactions from faculty and alumni have not been released by the college.