Paul P. Appasamy earned his engineering degree in India, continued his graduate studies in engineering and management in the United States, and was awarded his PhD in urban and regional planning from the University of Michigan. After postdoctoral research, he returned to India, where he held positions at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Madras School of Economics for about 20 years. He served as director of both the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Madras School of Economics for seven years. He then served as Vice Chancellor of Karunya University, a Christian Technical University in Coimbatore, South India for five years. He retired in 2012 and now lives with his wife Geetha at their home in Chennai (Madras).

Dr. Appasamy’s research has largely been in the areas of environment, water resources, and urban development. More recently, he has worked on higher education issues in India, particularly the challenges faced by Indian colleges and universities. He serves as president of the boards of Women’s Christian College and St. Christopher’s College of Education, and has been a member of the United Board’s Task Force on South Asia.