05 February 2018
Threesna Sharfina
Medan – USU Public Relations: Drs. H. Panusunan Pasaribu, M.M., was unanimously elected as Chair of the Interim Replacement Board of Trustees (MWA-PAW) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) during a meeting attended by all members of the Board. The meeting was held in the MWA Meeting Room, USU Central Administration Building, on Monday (5/2).
The meeting was attended by 20 out of 21 registered MWA members, including Prof. Dr. Todung Mulya Lubis, S.H., LL.M.; the Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education, represented by Secretary-General Prof. Ainun Na’im; Governor of North Sumatra, Dr. Ir. H. Tengku Erry Nuradi, M.Si.; Chairman of the USU Alumni Association (IKA USU), Drs. H. Sofyan Raz, Ak., M.M.; Ir. Asrul Masir Harahap, M.Pd.; Prof. Dr. Chairuddin P. Lubis, DTM&H, Sp.A(K); several professors and appointed public figures. The event was also witnessed by USU Rector, Prof. Dr. Runtung Sitepu, S.H., M.Hum.
Drs. H. Panusunan replaces the previous Chair, Prof. Dr. Todung Mulya Lubis, S.H., LL.M., who resigned after being appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Norway and Iceland. However, the resignation only applies to the chairmanship; he remains a member of the USU Board of Trustees. Drs. Panusunan will serve as Chair until 2020.
Upon his confirmation, Drs. Panusunan committed to continuing and succeeding all MWA programs until the end of his term. He emphasized the importance of unity and cohesion among board members and the board’s main responsibility of overseeing the university’s leadership performance. He also expressed full support for all rectoral policies aimed at improving the quality of education and achieving top accreditation status.
“We cannot deny or ignore the various improvements USU has recently achieved. We hope all these advancements can be accelerated so that USU stands equal to other leading universities,” said Panusunan.
Regarding the previous chairman’s appointment as ambassador, Panusunan hoped USU could take advantage of broader opportunities for collaboration and gain valuable experience in managing education as practiced in Norway.
USU Rector, Prof. Dr. Runtung Sitepu, S.H., M.Hum., welcomed the new chairman's election, stating that the unanimous decision reflected a positive and harmonious internal climate, giving new energy for institutional development. Drs. H. Panusunan Pasaribu, M.M., was born in Padangsidimpuan on June 22, 1946. He holds a Master's degree in Management from USU. His career includes various governmental positions such as Head of Revenue Department of North Sumatra Province, Secretary of Bappedasu, Regional Secretary of Simalungun, and Regent of Central Tapanuli. Beyond bureaucracy, he is also active as the Founding Chair of Al-Muslimin Education Foundation in Pandan (Tapteng), Expert Staff to the Governor of North Sumatra, Chair of the North Sumatra Fair Foundation, Vice Chair of the Indonesian Waqf Board (North Sumatra), and a member of the USU Board of Trustees. He previously served as Vice Chair of the Provincial Civil Servants Corps (Korpri), Treasurer of KONI Sumut, Treasurer of IKA USU, and Chair of the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Psychology at USU.
