The Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University is gearing up for a legacy change with one of its oldest deans putting in her resignation papers. Dean of Interior Design Faculty, Krishna Shastri, who has been with the institute since 1991, has announced her decision to leave the varsity by September, pushing CEPT to begin the hunt for a successor. CEPT has already constituted a three-member search and selection committee to find a replacement for the senior faculty member who joined the institute during the times of Rasu Vakil and BV Doshi. The search and selection panel will include CEPT President Bimal Patel who will also act as chairman of the search committee. He will be joined by Achal Bakeri, member of CEPT's Boardof Management and Chairman of Symphony Limited, along with varsity academic head A Srivatsan.

SHASTRI'S EXIT END OF AN ERA

Recalling her association with CEPT, where she was awarded a diploma in Architecture from School of Architecture in 1969, Shastri said, "It has been wonderful working with CEPT. Over time and with new things being introduced to CEPT, the essence of the CEPT has remained the same — an open institute that provides you freedom to develop." Interestingly, among the current deans at the institute, Shastri is the only faculty member associated with the university for over three decades. With her stepping down and a successor's appointment, CEPT will have deans who joined the institute after Patel took over as president.

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None of the four current deans have been directly associated with CEPT earlier. When authorities looked for deans for architecture, planning and technology faculty, none of the faculty members were promoted as dean. And we are expecting the same in this case too. With this change, the entire dean panel will be new." Srivatsan, however, pointed out, "The search committee has just been formed. It is yet to meet. The search committee will invite applications only after a meeting and discussion with faculty members — both core and visiting. We haven't yet decided on a deadline for the shortlisting and appointment of the dean."