Rector of Jember University, Dr. Ir. Iwan Taruna, M.Eng., IPM, officially inaugurated Prof. Drs. Dafik, M.Sc., Ph.D., as Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember, for the period 2024–2028 (8/3). On the same occasion, the Rector also inaugurated the Vice Rector III of the University of Jember, the Dean of FKM and FT UNEJ, the Secretary of the Institution, and the Head of the Unit Penunjang Akademik (UPA) at the University of Jember. Prof. Dafik continued the leadership baton of FMIPA UNEJ for the previous period, which was held by Drs. Achmad Sjaifullah, M.Sc., Ph.D. Present in the UNEJ Rectorate Hall, 3rd floor, were the Chairman of the Senate, the Vice Rectors, Heads of Bureaus, Heads of Institutions, and Deans of the UNEJ environment. Also, the Deputy Deans and Heads of General Affairs of the faculty were appointed.

Prof. Dafik is a mathematics lecturer who completed his education at FKIP UNEJ in 1992. Then he continued his studies at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), U.K., England, in 1998. Meanwhile, his doctoral degree was obtained from the School of Information and Technology and Mathematical Science (ITMS) at the University of Ballarat, Australia, in 2007. And was awarded the title of professor in 2013. He served as Dean of FKIP UNEJ in the 2016–2020 period and Chair of the Research Group Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Network Topology (CGANT) from 2018–present.

Prof. Drs. Dafik, M.Sc., Ph.D., is the fifth Dean to lead the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Jember University since its founding in 1999. The first dean was Ir. Sumadi, M.S., from the Biology Department, followed by Prof. Drs. Kusno, DEA, Ph.D., from the Department of Mathematics, then Drs. Sujito, Ph.D., from the Department of Physics, and Drs. Achmad Sjaifullah, M.Sc., Ph.D., from the Department of Chemistry, which ends in 2024.

Prof. Dafik will lead FMIPA UNEJ, which now has four undergraduate study programs and four master’s study programs, namely mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. It is hoped that in the era of his leadership, FMIPA UNEJ will be more advanced and superior in the development of mathematics, science, and applications from an environmental perspective. Good luck, Prof. Dafik. May you always be given health, strength, and guidance from Allah SWT in carrying out your mandate to lead FMIPA UNEJ. Aamiin.