Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the Maldives National University since November 19, 2023. Previously, she served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at MNU. Dr. Adam graduated from the University of Newcastle, Australia with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Education in 1995. She achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics Education (1998) and a Master of Philosophy in Mathematics Education (1999) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand. In 2004 Dr. Adam obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, followed by a Postdoctoral Research fellowship at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 2005.

Dr. Adam has worked in the Maldives education sector since 1995 in different capacities. First, as a Mathematics Teacher, then as an Assistant Principal, and finally as the Executive Director for the Ministry of Education where she was responsible for both the educational supervision, national assessment and quality improvement of schools across the country.

She has also provided her knowledge and skills to independent organizations to strengthen educational standards at both local and international levels. She has worked as the National Coordinator for the UNESCO Education for All (EFA) program and as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board for Live and Learn (Maldives) Environmental Education. Additionally, Dr. Adam has published books, contributed to a number of journals and has been a consultant for education and higher education related projects in the Maldives.

In addition to her work in the education sector, Dr. Adam possesses notable experience in the foreign service as she served as the Ambassador of the Maldives to both Pakistan (2009-2013) and the United Arab Emirates (2013-2014) and as the non-resident Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan (2011 – 2013).