Shahani will be sworn in by Governor S M Krishna at the Raj Bhavan on January 5, according to Sitaram Kunte, secretary to the Governor.

“It is a great honour for a teacher, for the academic community and I owe it to my students who have inspired me over the years,” Shahani told Newsline.

The post had been lying vacant ever since industrialist Vijyapat Singhania’s term ended in 2006.

Dr Shahani has been officiating as the principal of H R College since 2000. She was previously the vice-principal of the college and has 31 years of teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. She is also currently a member of the Academic Council of the University of Mumbai.

Dr Shahani, who holds a PhD in commerce from the University of Mumbai on enhancing links between academic institutions, was also the first Asian woman invited to be a member of the IB Council of Foundation in 2004. She is also a visiting faculty member at UC Berkeley and the School of Management (NJIT), USA.

In 2002, Dr Shahani received an award from the Sahyog Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Dr Shahani, a member of the IB education committee and the IB (International Baccalaureate) Asia-Pacific regional advisory committee, was in news in 2005-06 after the introduction of unaided courses in her college without the approval of the academic council of the university. Senate members wanted to unseat her as the principal but the decision was recalled in 2006 by new Senate.

The Sheriff of Mumbai is position of authority bestowed for one year on a prominent citizen of Mumbai. The Sheriff is an officer of the High Court and the nominal head of the department which carries out orders of the court for summoning people and also for attachment, sealing and auction of property. The Sheriff has an office and staff but does not have executive powers. In the order of precedence, the Sheriff ranks below the Mayor. Mumbai and Kolkata are the only cities in India to maintain this post.