Career Highlights

Dr. Maya Shanker Pandey is a distinguished academic leader, scholar, and educator, recognized for his enduring contributions to higher education, academic administration, and research. Currently, he is the longest-serving professor at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where he holds the position of Dean of the Faculty of Arts (since September 2024) and Senior Professor (AL-15) in the Department of English (since July 2018). Dr. Pandey embarked on his illustrious journey at Banaras Hindu University in April 1992, initially appointed as a Reader. His exceptional contributions led to his elevation to the rank of Professor in 2000. He further distinguished himself by serving as the Head of the Department of English from February 2016 to January 2019, leaving an indelible mark on the academic community.

He holds a Ph.D. in English from BHU, alongside a Postgraduate Diploma in English Language Teaching from CIEFL (now EFLU), Hyderabad.

A seasoned scholar, Dr. Pandey’s academic interests span contemporary literature, literary theory, poetry, fiction, diaspora literature, Indian literature in English, linguistics, and English language teaching. He has published over 70 articles and research papers, contributed to numerous anthologies, and authored 7 books, including four co-edited volumes. His significant works also include translations of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya: A Short Biography (from Hindi to English) and the History of Banaras Hindu University (two volumes, from English to Hindi). His research has deeply influenced the fields of literary theory, communication, teacher education, and Indian diaspora literature.

Dr. Pandey’s commitment to academic excellence extends beyond his research. He has served as a member of the editorial board for the Encyclopedia of Hinduism (under the editorship of Prof. Kapil Kapoor) and as the editor of Research and Criticism, an in-house journal at BHU. His expertise has been shared globally through over 150 invited lectures, seminars, and workshops at national and international platforms. Additionally, he has served as the Principal Investigator for a UGC major research project on the Poetry of the Indian Diaspora, and has guided 25 Ph.D. students, six of whom are currently under his supervision.

As an academic administrator, Dr. Pandey has demonstrated exemplary leadership. He was a key member of the UGC Expert Committee for drafting the Learning Outcomes-based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) for UG and PG English courses. His administrative responsibilities also include serving as Chief Administrative Warden of City Delegacy, Deputy Coordinator and In-charge of the Malaviya Centre for Ethics and Human Values, and Convener of the Inter-Faculty Youth Festival Spandan. In addition, Dr. Pandey has been a member NAAC Expert Panel.

In his current roles, Dr. Pandey serves as the Acting Head of the Department of Arabic and the Department of Foreign Languages at BHU, and coordinates six vocational degree programs within the Faculty of Arts, including in fields such as Computer Applications, Agri-Business, Catering Technologies, Tourism, Hospitality Management, and Banking and Insurance.

Dr. Pandey’s exemplary leadership, scholarly contributions, and dedication to institutional development make him a visionary and highly qualified academician. His commitment to fostering academic growth and innovation continues to shape the future of higher education, positioning him as a leading figure in the academic community.