Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail is a woman of many firsts, having been the first woman to be appointed Vice Chancelor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in 2012, and the first female Vice Chancelor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 2016. In 2014-2016, she served as the country’s first female Director-General of Higher Education. She is the first female President of Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the first female Chairperson of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. Currently, she serves as the Ibn Sina Chair for Medicine at the International Islamic University Malaysia, an honorary Professor at USM’s Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, and Associate Research Fellow at the Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia, Sabah.
Her educational background includes a BSc (Biology) from the University of Nevada, MA (Microbiology) from Indiana University and a PhD (Cellular and Molecular Biology) from the University of Nevada. Her scientific discoveries have led to the attainment of 14 patents and commercialization of the rapid diagnostic test for typhoid, which was advocated by WHO. She has published over 100 papers, made over 400 presentations and 48 keynotes both at the national and international levels.
Professor Ismail has received more than 200 awards and recognitions. For her leadership in lifelong learning in the Commonwealth, especially for women, and her outstanding service to the advancement of higher education and science in Malaysia, she was conferred the title of Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning. Currently, she is a member of COL’s Board of Governors.