Dr Diana Pauna Appointed Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at UCA

The University of Central Asia (UCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Diana Pauna as Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS). Based in Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic, Dr Pauna will oversee academic and administrative activities of SAS across UCA’s undergraduate campuses in Naryn and Khorog.

Dr Pauna brings extensive experience in academic leadership, curriculum innovation, and institutional development, and has served on several advisory, management, and supervisory boards across tertiary institutions. Dr Pauna is also a published author on topics including higher education policy, academic leadership, and the creative knowledge economy.

From 2016 to 2020, Dr Pauna served as the founding Dean of SAS, leading the School’s establishment and growth across the two campuses. Dr Pauna was also the Pro-Rector at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, where she led undergraduate programmes in economics and business. During her time at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, she focused on entrepreneurship education and faculty development.

With a strong commitment to strengthening links between academia and industry, Dr Pauna’s leadership will focus on expanding opportunities for young people to access high-quality education and make meaningful contributions to society.

We warmly welcome Dr Pauna back to UCA and look forward to her leadership in advancing the mission of the School of Arts and Sciences.