On Thursday, August 31, 2017, Prof. Dr. Amitya Kumara, M.S., Psikolog has gone back to Rahmatullah. Almarhumah passed away at the age of 57 in Panti Rapih, a hospital near UGM. Her body was buried the next day in the university’s Sawit Sari Cemetary, located in Sawit Sari, Condong Catur, Depok, Sleman. The burial process took place after a ceremony in her honor was held in Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Balairung.
Almarhumah was born in Yogyakarta on February 25, 1960. She graduated from SD Ungaran Yogyakarta in 1972, went to SMP 8 Yogyakarta for junior high, graduating in 1975; and proceeded to SMA 3 Yogyakarta for high school, finishing in 1979. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology in 1985 from Universitas Gadjah Mada, then a master’s from the same faculty in 1990, and lastly her doctorate degree in 2002, from Universitas Gadjah Mada as well. She started her work in the faculty in 1986 and in 2011 became a Guru Besar. Prof. Amitya also served as Vice Dean of Academics and Student Affairs from 2012 to 2016.
On May 27, 2010, she delivered a speech, “Mengasah Ketrampilan Membaca pada Anak Melalui Belajar atau Bermain” for her inauguration ceremony. She authored many papers during her time as an academician, among them are: Kumara, Amitya. (2015). Mentoring Program for Teachers of Inclusive Elementary Schools; Kumara, Amitya. (2013). The Power of Research to Introduce Anti-Bullying Practice and Policy; Kumara, A., Sari, B. N., Febriyanti, D. A., & Sari, I. H. (2013). The “Creating Friendly Classrooms” Program and Classroom Management.
Almarhumah achieved many awards, in 2007 she was awarded the honor of Satyalencana for her 20 years of service, in 2011 she was awarded by the university for her 25 years of work, in 2015 she was honored as the researcher with the best international publication in the field of social science and humanitites, and lastly in 2017 she was again awarded for her 30 years of dedication in Universitas Gadjah Mada.
The students and the whole faculty of UGM Psychology is truly sorry for this loss. We hope that Almarhumah husnul khotimah, and that her good deeds and worship will be accepted by Allah SWT. We pray for her sins to be forgiven, and for her family to be given strength and patience in going through these times.