Professor Nirmala Rao OBE is inducted as an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College

Fellows at Lucy Cavendish College held a ceremony to welcome Professor Nirmala Rao OBE into its Fellowship. Professor Rao is Vice Chancellor of the Asian University for Women (AUW). She previously served as Pro-Director (Learning and Teaching) at SOAS, University of London. 

A distinguished political scientist, Professor Rao is an expert on urban governance and has published widely in the field of comparative politics and public policy. She has extensive experience of public service and has served as an advisor to a range of bodies including the UK Audit Commission, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), and the Government of India. Professor Rao will bring enormous value to Lucy Cavendish and we are honoured to welcome her into the College.

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Rao said:

“To be recognised in this way is a wonderful and humbling personal honour. My thanks to those who nominated me for this honorary fellowship; it is an unexpected delight to receive it and I am greatly looking forward to working with Lucy Cavendish.”

The University of Cambridge has recognised the AUW undergraduate degree as a qualification for entry to its postgraduate programmes of study. AUW alumnae will now be eligible to apply directly upon completion of their undergraduate degree to a range of subjects offered by Cambridge. Lucy Cavendish College will offer an annual scholarship dedicated to Lady Judy Moody-Stuart, a benefactor and long-term supporter of AUW, and Vice-Chair of its Support Foundation in London. 

Professor Atkins said:

“We are thrilled that Nirmala has joined the Lucy Cavendish College community, strengthening our ties with AUW. She has for years been a great champion of providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged and under-represented communities and we will benefit from her considerable experience and academic expertise."

See more photos from Professor Rao's induction ceremony here.