For human rights activists and academics, the name Dr. Edy Ikhsan is no stranger. He is widely known for his many legal and social activities, especially protecting marginalized groups, children, and women. In the academic field, Dr. Edy's research on the customs and customary rights of the Deli Malay community has made him a trusted source of information. Born in Medan on February 16, 1963, he completed his Bachelor of Laws at the Faculty of Law, Department of Civil Affairs, USU in 1986, earned a Master's degree in Legal Anthropology from Leiden University and the University of Indonesia, and a Doctor of Laws degree from the Universitas Sumatera Utara in 2013.

Dr. Edy Ikhsan is active in various organizations and research. His experience includes the Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam, Lembaga Advokasi Anak Indonesia, North Sumatra WALHI, North Sumatra Kontras, and Yayasan Pusaka Indonesia. His research covers land conflicts, customary rights, and refugee protection. As USU Vice Rector I, he supports implementing the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program, which provides great opportunities for students to develop competencies through the collaboration of soft and hard skills. Dr. Edy also actively publishes scientific papers and holds important positions, including as a lecturer at the USU Faculty of Law and Chairman of the Governing Board of KontraS North Sumatra.