Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has once again reaffirmed its commitment as a pioneer of educational excellence by inaugurating four new professors during its Dies Natalis celebration. The inauguration reflects UNNES’s consistency in enhancing the quality of human resources and strengthening the institution’s contribution to the advancement of knowledge, research, and community service.
In his remarks, the Rector of UNNES expressed pride and appreciation for the academic achievements attained by the newly appointed professors. The rank of professor represents the highest functional academic position for lecturers and signifies recognition of excellence in carrying out the tridharma of higher education. Beyond being an academic title, the professorship entails a significant responsibility to serve as a source of inspiration, a driver of innovation, and a role model for the academic community.
Each of the four professors has demonstrated a strong academic track record in their respective fields. Nugroho Trisnu Brata, Professor of Development Anthropology at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, views development as a human-centered, culturally grounded, and sustainability-oriented process. Through ethnographic approaches, he actively empowers marginalized communities and promotes development rooted in local wisdom.
In the field of linguistics, Sri Rejeki Urip, Professor of Pragmatics at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, has introduced innovations in language education by emphasizing precision of meaning and contextual relevance. Her approach enriches language learning processes, making them more contextual, humanistic, and responsive to contemporary communication dynamics.
Meanwhile, Bernadus Wahyudi Joko Santoso, Professor of Linguistics specializing in Critical Discourse Analysis, positions language as a social practice that reflects and shapes power relations within society. His contributions have strengthened critical linguistic studies, particularly in the analysis of public and digital discourse in Indonesia.
Additionally, Bestari Dwi Handayani, Professor of Public Sector Accounting at the Faculty of Economics and Business, has developed expertise in equitable, transparent, and sustainable governance of village-owned enterprises (BUMDes). Through her research and community engagement, she promotes multi-stakeholder collaboration to support inclusive and sustainability-oriented rural development.
The inauguration of these four professors is expected to further reinforce UNNES’s role as a leading and impactful higher education institution. The accomplishments of these distinguished scholars are anticipated to bring meaningful contributions to the university, generate tangible benefits for society, and advance national progress through sustainable knowledge and innovation.
