Amit Chakma
Encyclopedia
Amit Chakma is the tenth president of the University of Western Ontario
.
Born in southeastern Bangladesh
and a member of the Chakma
ethnic minority, he moved away from his tribe to study chemical engineering at Algerian Petroleum Institute in Algeria
. In 1977 he graduated at the top of his class. He then moved to Canada and earned an M.A.Sc. and Ph.D.
in chemical engineering from the University of British Columbia
.
From 1988 until 1996, he taught chemical engineering
at the University of Calgary
. In 1996 he moved to the University of Regina
as Dean of Engineering. He then served as Regina's Vice President Research from 1999 to 2001. During his time at the University of Regina Dr. Chakma was named to Canada's Top 40 Under 40 list. He became Vice President Academic and Provost at the University of Waterloo
in 2001. His research interests are natural gas engineering and petroleum waste management.
On July 1, 2009, Dr. Chakma succeeded Paul Davenport
as the University of Western Ontario's President. Having left the University of Waterloo, he has been noted for his service to both the university and the academic and business community of Kitchener
-Waterloo
. His goal as president of UWO is to position the school among the top 100 universities in the world.
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
.
Born in southeastern Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and a member of the Chakma
Chakma people
The Chakmas , also known as the Changhma , are a community that inhabits the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the North-East India. The Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, making up more than half the tribal population. Chakmas are divided into 46 clans or...
ethnic minority, he moved away from his tribe to study chemical engineering at Algerian Petroleum Institute in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. In 1977 he graduated at the top of his class. He then moved to Canada and earned an M.A.Sc. and Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in chemical engineering from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
From 1988 until 1996, he taught chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
. In 1996 he moved to the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
as Dean of Engineering. He then served as Regina's Vice President Research from 1999 to 2001. During his time at the University of Regina Dr. Chakma was named to Canada's Top 40 Under 40 list. He became Vice President Academic and Provost at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
in 2001. His research interests are natural gas engineering and petroleum waste management.
On July 1, 2009, Dr. Chakma succeeded Paul Davenport
Paul Davenport
Paul Theodore Davenport, was the ninth president of the University of Western Ontario.Born and raised in Summit, New Jersey, he graduated magna cum laude from Stanford University in 1969 with a BA in economics...
as the University of Western Ontario's President. Having left the University of Waterloo, he has been noted for his service to both the university and the academic and business community of Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
-Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
. His goal as president of UWO is to position the school among the top 100 universities in the world.