Ahmedabad-May 2025: Anant National University is delighted to welcome Dr Sanjeev Vidyarthi as the new Provost. A distinguished architect, urban designer, spatial planner, scholar, author and leader, Dr Vidyarthi brings an exceptional breadth of expertise and leadership experience to the university.
As the Provost of Anant National University, Dr Vidyarthi will lead institution-building with a sharp focus on advancing the university’s mission. He will be instrumental in steering Anant toward a long-term sustainability commitment to advancing the public good while positioning the university as a leader in design education. Under Dr Vidyarthi’s dynamic leadership, Anant will continue to foster transformative design education, nurturing solutionaries equipped to solve existing and emergent global problems.
On his appointment, Dr SanjeevVidyarthisaid, “I am really excited to be part of Anant, India’s first DesignXuniversity, comprising bright colleagues and best-in-class infrastructure anywhere. Within a short span of time, Anant has established itself as an emergent leader, offering world-class design education via innovative pedagogy. Moving forward, we remain committed to driving innovation, championing sustainability and fostering interdisciplinary learning – all aimed at empowering the next generation of problem-solvers who would help fulfil the national aspirations of ‘विकसितभारत’ for everyone.
Dr Vidyarthi’s illustrious career includes leading the founding of neighbouring Rajasthan’s first and only standalone school of architecture, the Aayojan School of Architecture. He served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Head of the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) — one of the largest planning schools in North America. He was also the Founding Director of Chicago’s first Master of City Design programme at UIC, a position he held for six years.
Reflecting on Anant’s transition to new leadership, Mr Ajay Piramal, President, Anant National University, said, “Dr Vidyarthi brings a wealth of expertise and a proven legacy of leadership, and I am confident that under his guidance, Anant will continue to scale new heights and make a lasting impact on the world.”
Speaking at his farewell, the outgoing Provost, Dr Anunaya Chaubey, shared his warm wishes, saying, “I am delighted to welcome Dr Vidyarthi to Anant National University. His distinguished career, depth of expertise and visionary leadership make him the ideal person to take Anant’s academic mission forward. I wish him great success as he embarks on this exciting journey.”
A PhD and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Dr Vidyarthi also earned anMArch from KU Leuven, Belgium and a BArch from Sir JJ College of Architecture, University of Mumbai. Dr Vidyarthi has authored six scholarly books and numerous essays in leading academic journals. He has been recognised with special awards and grants for his pioneering work and has given talks and presentations at many prestigious forums globally.
