THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Pro-Chancellor, Minister P Prasad announced that Dr. B Ashok, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department and Commissioner of Agricultural Production, has been given the charge of Vice Chancellor of Agricultural University. After the retirement of Dr. K Arya, who was in charge of the VC, the governor had instructed the minister to prepare a replacement system. Dr. Ashok will continue until a permanent VC is appointed.

An eminent educationist, writer, speaker, academician, and columnist, Dr B Ashok was the first Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala Veterinary University. He was a professor and registrar at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth University in Kochi. A 1998 batch IAS officer, he served as Director, Central Department of Agriculture; Deputy Director, National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, and Faculty of Mussoorie IAS Academy for over 15 years. He held the posts of Energy Secretary, KSEB Chairman and Managing Director, and Water Resources Director. During his tenure as Chairman and Managing Director of the Electricity Board, he initiated many reforms.

He holds a bachelor's degree in veterinary science from the University of Agriculture, a master's degree in water resources from the University of London, and a master's degree in political science from the University of Turin, Italy. Doing research in Communication from Amrita University. In 2019, he won Canada's International Research Award for Sociology Research Dissertation. He received training in management from Tata Management School, University of London, and Duke University, USA. He has published five books including one on the history of veterinary science, several academic papers, and more than a thousand articles. He is the President of the IAS Association. Kollam is a native of Chatannoor.