Winfred Chelliah

Prof. M. Winfred Chelliah, as a professional entity, is a blend of an academic, an administrator, and a mentor. After working in reputed schools for 3 years as a Senior teacher of English, he served Madras Christian College with distinction for 29 years as a Professor of English, making significant contributions to English Language Teaching (ELT) for graduate and postgraduate students (both in theory and practice) with a well-defined career path to become teachers in schools or colleges. He was sent by the college to West Germany for a two-year music study program at the oldest university for Music. As a requirement, he completed a rudimentary course in German.

As an administrator, he held challenging positions, such as Director of the Self-financed Stream at Madras Christian College, guiding 14 departments for 3 years, Dean of a residence hall for 4 years at MCC, Founding Principal of Alpha Arts and Science College, Founder and Senior Principal of Alpha School in Porur, Regional Head for institutional management in four states – Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh for the Ryan International Group of Institutions, Director of the Pearl Academic Leadership Institute of Velammal Group of Institutions, Principal of St. John’s International Residential School, and Dean of St. John’s Public School in Chennai. As a mentor, he possesses a natural attitude and flair for guiding young faculty members and counselling young adolescents in colleges. Through his initiatives and persistent efforts, Madras Christian College established a Center for Human Resource Development (HRD) that offers a two-semester value-added course for all graduate and postgraduate students. The course aims to equip them with life-oriented skills, making them more employable.

Given his extensive experience in higher education and schooling, he serves as a reliable resource person for student interventions in crucial areas such as personality development, inculcation of values, fine-tuning for employability, communication, presentation, debating skills, and professional grooming on campus. He also excels in networking and building institutional rapport with schools.