Core Leadership
Shaping the vision of a future-first university grounded in integration,
responsibility, human-centric thinking, and a culture of academic excellence.
Prof. Satish Tripathi
Honorary Chancellor, Governing Board
WPU GŌA
President, University at Buffalo, USA
Prof. Satish Tripathi is the first international-born President of the University at Buffalo and a respected global academic leader. In 2024, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the highest honours in academia. He is a Fellow of IEEE, AAAS, and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association, reflecting his impact on science and technology. He graduated at the top of his class from Banaras Hindu University, India. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, Canada. He also holds three master’s degrees in computer science and statistics from leading universities in Canada and India.
Prof. Walter Leal Filho
Vice Chancellor
WPU GŌA
Prof. Walter Leal Filho is a distinguished Euro-Professor and a globally recognized leader in sustainable development and climate change. He holds professorial positions in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Poland, and currently chairs Climate Change Management at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. He is one of the world’s most published scholars in sustainable development and a leading contributor to climate change research, including health dimensions. Prof. Leal is the founding editor of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education and editor of major global book series with Springer. He has served as a Lead Author and Review Editor for the IPCC and has advised international organizations such as the UN, World Bank, and European Union.
Mr. D.Shivakumar
President, Industry Advisory Board
WPU GŌA
Former CEO, PepsiCo, India
Mr. D. Shivakumar, also known as Shiv, is a leading Indian business leader and respected management thinker. He has served as Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo India, where he led major portfolio and brand transformations. He has also held senior leadership roles at Nokia, Hindustan Lever, and the Aditya Birla Group, working across FMCG, telecom, and corporate strategy. He currently serves as an Operating Partner at Advent International, a global private equity firm. He is an alumnus of IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta. His leadership work is widely taught through case studies at leading global business schools, and he has also served as President of the All India Management Association (AIMA).
Prof. Suresh Garimella
Chairman, Global Advisory Board
WPU GŌA
President, University of Arizona, USA
Prof. Suresh Garimella is the 23rd President of the University of Arizona and a distinguished academic leader in engineering. He previously served as President of the University of Vermont. He has also held senior leadership roles at Purdue University, including Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships. Prof. Garimella is a member of the National Science Board and was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2025. He is a highly cited researcher with over 625 research publications and 16 patents. He holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. And master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Ohio State University and IIT Madras, respectively.
Prof. Pankaj Chandra
Advisor
WPU GŌA
Vice Chancellor, Ahmedabad University
Prof. Pankaj Chandra is the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Management of Ahmedabad University. He previously served as Director of IIM Bangalore and as a professor at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore. He was the Chairperson of the Doctoral Programme at IIM Ahmedabad and the first Associate Dean (Academic) at ISB, Hyderabad. He has played a key role in shaping higher education policy in India, serving on several Government of India committees and national advisory bodies. Prof. Chandra has also been closely involved in institution building and entrepreneurship, including being part of the founding team of Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) at IIM Ahmedabad. He holds a BTech from Banaras Hindu University and a PhD from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Rahul V. Karad
Executive President
WPU GŌA
Dr. Rahul V. Karad is a prominent Indian educationist and institution-builder who serves as the Managing Trustee and Executive President of MAEER’s MIT Group of Institutions. Carrying forward the legacy of his father, Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad, he oversees more than 70 institutes and over 80,000 students as of 2026. An alumnus of Harvard Business School and a postgraduate in management from Cardiff University, UK, Dr. Rahul Karad is renowned for pioneering initiatives that bridge education with democratic governance. He founded the MIT School of Government (MIT-SOG), the first of its kind in Asia, and established the Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad (Indian Student Parliament) to encourage youth participation in politics. His other notable platforms include the National Teachers’ Congress, National Women’s Parliament, and National Legislators’ Conference, all aimed at nation-building through ethical leadership and value-based education.