Dr. Pankaj Mittal is Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is the second woman Secretary General of the Association in its 95 years of existence. Prior to joining AIU, she served in the higher education sector, especially university education for over three decades at the University Grants Commission of India.

Dr. Mittal is a Fulbright Scholar and she has vast experience of over three decades in Higher Education, Policy Planning and Management of Higher Education.

Dr Mittal earlier served as the first regular Vice Chancellor of Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila
Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur, the first rural women university of North India and was tasked with developing the Gurukul into an institution of repute.

During her stint as Vice Chancellor, Dr Mittal has forged collaborations with several universities such as University of Baltimore, St Catherine University, Notingham Trent University and University of Cambridge ESOL, UK.

Dr. Mittal has also served as a member of various high powered committees and professional bodies.

She has published numerous papers, articles, occasional papers and reports on issues relating to higher education and women empowerment in national and international journals.