Dr. Ridling Margaret Waller


Educational Background

  • Venom of Three Indian Spiders, Madras Christian College, University of Madras, India
    Ph.D Degree in Zoology.
  • Holy Cross College, University of Madras, Trichirappalli, India
    M.Sc. Degree in Zoology
  • Holy Cross College, University of Madras, Trichirappalli, India
    B.Sc. Degree in Zoology

Experience Record

Mix of Industry, Academic and Administrative Experience

Professional Background

  • Principal (Grade I) – Women`s Christian College, Chennai 01.06.2006 to 31.05.2017.
  • Faculty, Department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology, WCC 1985 - 2017.

Academic and Administrative Experience

  • Presented the "Best Practices of Christian Colleges in the Tamil Nadu Region"at the All India Association for Christian Higher Education (AIACHE) Triennial Conference on "Transforming Christian Higher Education in India 2012-2022"held at Chennai from January 29th – 31st 2012.
  • Resource Person for the "Induction Training Program"for newly promoted Principals of Government Arts and Science Colleges organized by Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education on 28th November 2012.
  • A Resource Person at the one-day Orientation Program on ‘Autonomy: Prospects & Challenges’ held at Hislop College, Nagpur, Maharashtra on 1st March 2013.
  • Co-convener for the Conference for the Vice Chancellors and Principals of member institutions of AIACHE held on 1st, 2nd & 3rd May 2013 at Christ University, Bangalore.
  • Member of the Academic Council and Senate in the University of Madras.
  • University representative on the Governing Body of Christ Arts and Science College, Kilacherry Village, Thiruvallur District (11.10.2013 –10.10.2015)
  • UGC nominee for Grant of Autonomy – Talcher College and Karanjia College, Orissa.
  • Served as member in the Panel for selection of Principal in the following colleges:
    • Ethiraj College for Women
    • MGR Janaki College for Women
    • Sir Thiagaraja College, Chennai.
  • UGC nominee for Grant of Autonomy – Talcher College and Karanjia College, Orissa. Member of the NAAC Peer Team for Accreditation / Re-accreditation in the following colleges:
    • Sri Durga Malleswara Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala (Autonomous), Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh – 4th to 6th April 2013 (Accreditation)
    • Sree Siddaganga College of Arts, Science & Commerce for Women, Tumkur, Karnataka – 22nd – 24th August 2013
    • St. Joseph's College for Women, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh – 9th to 11th December 2013
    • Vivekananda Mission Mahavidyalaya, Sutahata, West Bengal – 5th to 7th January 2015
    • Bejoy Narayan Mahavidyalaya, Hooghly, West Bengal – 23rd to 25th February 2015
    • Women`s College (Autonomous), Gudur, Andhra Pradesh –2nd to 4th March 2015
    • Ideal College of Arts and Science, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh –23rd & 24th June 2016

Conferences Organized

  • Motivated faculty members in various departments to organize seminars, conferences and workshops during my leadership.
  • 50 conferences were organized in WCC.
  • 10 International, 37 National and 3 Regional sponsored by National and International agencies

International & Cross-cultural Experience

  • Widely traveled to 25 countries in Europe, North America, Canada, Asia, Australia and Africa.
  • Selected by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) as a Visiting Scholar to Davidson College, North Carolina, USA (2000–2001).
  • Attended the Asian University Leadership Programme (AULP) at Colina de Mong–Ha, Macau from 23rd to 27th January 2007.
  • Panelist in Women`s Education Worldwide (WEW) 2010 conference on "Empowering Women – the Economic Imperative–organized at the Women's College, University of Sydney, Australia (6th –8th January 2010).
  • Panelist at the Asian University Leaders Program (AULP) at Chung Chi College, Hong Kong organized by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia(24th to 28th January 2011).
  • Presented a paper on "In pursuit of sustainable transformation - WCC Perspective" at the CUAC 7th International Triennial Conference on "Sustainability - A new context for Higher Education" at the University of South, Sewanee, USA (May 22−25, 2011).
  • Participated in the Women's Education Worldwide (WEW) 2011 faculty conference on "Teaching globally"hosted by Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges in South Hadley and Northampton, Massachusetts, USA (May 31 − June 3, 2011).
  • Participated in the study visit to Philippines on Environment and Health from October 21 to November 1, 2012 and presented a paper on "Fostering Environmental Stewardship with special reference to Tree Diversity in the City of Chennai, India" at the 6th Asian Christian Faculty Fellowship held at Silliman University, Dumeguete, Philippines.
  • Chief Guest at the Uduvil Girls College, Jaffna on 18th July 2016 and also participated in interactive sessions organized by the United Board with their Trustees and Principals of few Colleges in Tamil Nadu and Schools in Jaffna from 16th − 20th July 2016.

Research and Publications

Research Articles

  • Spider Venom : Science Reporter (1983) 20 (5) 290 − 291.
  • Preliminary studies on the venom of Three Indian spiders Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences (1980 97 (3) 231 −237.
  • Functional Morphology of the poison apparatus & histology of the poison glands of Three Indian spiders: Journal of Bombay Natural History Society (1989) 86 344 −354.

Books

  • Grandiflora − The Plant Gallery of Women's Christian College.
  • Kenyan Odyssey.
  • 100 Fascinating Fauna of Women's Christian College – A Centenary Initiative.
  • Green Grandeur of Women's Christian College.
  • Class IX Zoology Text Book for Matriculation Schools.

Awards & Honors

  • Commenced One year Post Graduate Diploma in Facility Management in collaboration with Hanze University, Netherlands (2008−2011) .
  • Introduced Student Exchange Program with Eastern University, Philadelphia, USA. (2008) and American Transfer Program with Concordia College, New York, USA (2011).
  • Dr. Sam Higginbottom Award for the Best Principals of India 2011 by AIACHE.

Industry Linkages

  • The College was awarded A Grade with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.43 on a scale of 4 in the third cycle of NAAC Accreditation. On 23rd April 2012, The Indian Express in its press release had reported on the accreditation of Colleges as given by a NAAC Official with a caption ‘5 Tamil Nadu Colleges get A Grade – Women`s Christian College among top institutions to get NAAC Accreditation’. The article stated that topping the list of A Grade Colleges from the State is Women`s Christian College, a reputable autonomous Institution in Chennai which has bagged an impressive CGPA of 3.43 during the Re-accreditation exercise.
  • India Today Survey −College is ranked among the 50 best colleges in India in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016.
  • Awarded DBT Grant of Rs. 64 lakhs under Star College Scheme for the four Science Departments Physics, Chemistry, Botany & Zoology.
  • Awarded FIST Grant of 70 lakhs by DST, Government of India for Science &Technology departments.
  • Awarded the prestigious College with Potential for Excellence by UGC − 1.2 crores.
  • National Institutional Framework (NIRF), Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India ranked WCC in the 10th position among India's top 10 colleges.