UNAIR NEWS A strong commitment to social and humanitarian issues has established Bani Bacan Hacantya Yudanagara SPsi MSi as an inspiring figure within the academic community. The 2018 graduate of the Master of Psychology program at 51动漫 (UNAIR) is widely recognized for her dedication to community-centered work. Currently, Yudanagara serves as a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Psychology (FPsi) UNAIR. Her career path reflects how academic achievement can develop alongside meaningful humanitarian engagement.
Achievements reaching the international stage
The young scholar檚 accomplishments have become a source of inspiration for the UNAIR academic community. Yudanagara graduated as the top student in the Master of Psychology program in 2020 and later received the Most Innovative Community Service Lecturer award during the FPsi anniversary celebration in 2024. These achievements helped the way for broader academic opportunities at the international level.
淚 see this achievement as a major responsibility to create a wider positive impact, not only in Indonesia but also internationally, Yudanagara said while reflecting on her academic journey.
Her contributions also gained international recognition when Yudanagara was selected as Indonesia檚 delegate in the Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program (AIMEP) 2025. The milestone was followed by another achievement after she secured the LPDP scholarship to pursue doctoral studies at Monash University in Australia, beginning in June 2026.
Advocating marginalized communities through action
Yudanagara檚 research mainly focuses on community mental health, particularly among marginalized groups. Her studies explore areas such as positive youth development, women檚 empowerment, and gender equality. She also pays close attention to the psychosocial challenges faced by leprosy survivors, who often experience discrimination.
淚 want to ensure that vulnerable communities are not treated merely as research subjects. They should be empowered and receive equal access to mental well-being through appropriate community-based interventions, Yudanagara said.
She also brings extensive field experience to her work. Yudanagara previously served as a Program Officer for the Indonesia Mengajar movement from 2014 to 2016 and worked as a health program volunteer for the Pencerah Nusantara initiative under the Indonesian Presidential Special Envoy Office from 2013 to 2014. She later led the Melukis Harapan initiative to support the revitalization of a former prostitution area in Surabaya from 2016 to 2018.
Supporting SDGs and social welfare
Yudanagara檚 concern for social inequality highlights how UNAIR graduates contribute to addressing real societal challenges. Her initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 on good health and well-being and Goal 5 on gender equality.
淐ollective efforts to provide psychological support for vulnerable communities are essential to building sustainable social justice in Indonesia, she concluded.
Author: Fauziah Laili Romadhon
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
