Dr. Prof. Ngô Thị Phương Lan

President, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (USSH, VNUHCM)

Dr. Ngô Thị Phương Lan is the first female president in the over 60-year history of USSH, VNUHCM. She also serves as Director of the Center for Rural Development–Saemaul Undong (CRD-SU), a consulting and training center affiliated to USSH. An anthropologist by training, she obtained her bachelor’s degree from USSH, VNUHCM, a master’s in Cultural and Social Anthropology from the University of Toronto (2002), and a PhD in Ethnology from USSH, VNUHCM (2012).

Dr. Lan is a prolific author with nearly 70 publications to her name. She also serves on the editorial boards of major Vietnamese and international academic journals. She has secured over 30 research grants from international and Vietnamese agencies for research primarily focused on cultural, social, tourism, environmental, and economic anthropology.

In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Lan is a passionate advocate for rural and farmer livelihood development. As the Director of CRD-SU, she actively promotes the dissemination of Korea's Saemaul Undong (New Village) spirit, benefiting thousands of Vietnamese farmers, particularly women, through training workshops and community consulting activities. Her efforts also support and enhance the success of Vietnam's National Target Program for Rural Development.

She has held various posts with professional and governmental organizations and committees including Chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (AsTEN) (2024-2027), and as a member of Vietnam’s National Council for Education and Human Resources Development (2022-2026) and the National Social Sciences and Humanities Program (2021-2025) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

In 2019, Dr. Lan's dedication was honoured with the Vietnam Women’s Award, the nation's highest recognition for female individuals and organizations. She has also received multiple national and international accolades, including from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and local governments. Most recently, she was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Gyeongsangbuk Province, South Korea for her contributions to the "Development of Vietnam’s Agriculture and Rural Development based on the Saemaul Undong Spirit."