Psst… this is not an advertisement for a cellular provider or an internet data package promotion. This is FKG UGM’s achievement in 2026, having officially inaugurated three new professors: Prof. Dr. drg. Archadian Nuryanti, M.Kes., Prof. Dr. drg. Dyah Irnawati, M.S., and Prof. Dr. drg. Julita Hendrartini, M.Kes., FISDPH., FISPD. With their respective fields of expertise, the presence of these three new professors strengthens the “scientific signal” of FKG UGM. The faculty now officially records a total of 22 active professors.
Whenever we hear the word “professor,” our minds automatically associate it with the highest academic rank in higher education—one closely linked to scientific authority, senior academic status , and a social prestige deeply recognized in Indonesian society. An academic paper by Michael Clasquin-Johnson from the University of South Africa , published on ResearchGate in October 2014, explained that the term “professor” originally derived from the phrase “to profess,” meaning “to declare” or “to confess,” particularly within religious contexts. The term was commonly used during the 14th–15th centuries in medieval Europe.
As time progressed, according to the Merriam-Websterdictionary, the meaning of “professor” expanded into the domain of science and scholarship. In Michael Clasquin-Johnson’s study, he explained that in the modern era, the title of professor carries varying stereotypes and academic meanings across the world. A professor is not merely a career level, but someone deeply integrated with the essence of research and learning. For Clasquin, professors are not only active in research and teaching, but must consistently engage in scholarly pursuits throughout their lives. On the other hand, professors are also expected to write newspaper articles, books for the general public, answer questions related to their expertise during public events, and ground their knowledge within society so that it becomes truly integrated (nyawiji) with the community.
Bruce Macfarlane, author of the book Intellectual Leadership in Higher Education, described “professor” as “an elusive term.” In the United Kingdom, the term holds a very different meaning compared to North America. In North America, “professor” is a general label applied to all academics employed to conduct research and teach at universities. In the UK, much of Europe, Australia, Asia, and South Africa, however, “professorship” signifies distinction: a professor is someone promoted to the highest academic level, usually based on scientific achievements.
So, how are professors in Indonesia doing today? It is a major question—and certainly an ongoing challenge for Indonesia’s academic landscape, which continues to grow, evolve, and improve itself in preserving the dignity and authority of Indonesian academia. This time, FKG UGM answered that challenge through the inauguration of its three new professors on April 7, 2026.
For FKG UGM, the presence of these three new professors—Prof. Dr. drg. Archadian Nuryanti, M.Kes., Prof. Dr. drg. Dyah Irnawati, M.S., and Prof. Dr. drg. Julita Hendrartini, M.Kes., FISDPH., FISPD.—brings a renewed spirit to the campus environment. They are expected to introduce new paradigms to the scientific spirit of FKG UGM amid rapidly accelerating technological advancement. Congratulations to the three outstanding women of FKG UGM who have reached the highest throne in higher education. In their inaugural speeches, all three emphasized the same values: perseverance, discipline, and consistency as the daily foundation of genuine academics whose thoughts and scholarly works continuously strengthen their scientific “signal.” Congratulations on your continued service, and may you always echo the spirit: Padamu Negeri Kami Berjanji, Padamu Negeri Kami Berbakti, Padamu Negeri Kami Mengabdi, Bagimu Negeri Jiwa Raga Kami..Wahai para Guru Besar.
(Writer: Andri Wicaksono | Photography: Dodi Hendro Wibowo)
