Oding Affandi, commonly known as Kang Oding, was born in Cikijing, Majalengka, West Java, on June 3, 1973. He completed his undergraduate education at the Faculty of Forestry, IPB Bogor, in 1998; his Postgraduate Program in Forestry at Mulawarman University Samarinda in 2005; and obtained his Doctorate from the Forest Management Program, Faculty of Forestry IPB University, Bogor in 2020.

His expertise lies in Forest Policy, Politics, and Social Forestry. Currently, he is an active lecturer in the USU Doctoral Program of Natural Resource Management (PSL), the USU Master's Program in Natural Resource Management (PSL), the Master's Program in Forestry at USU, and the USU Faculty of Forestry Undergraduate Program in Forestry. In addition to his role as a lecturer, he was a Member of the National Forestry Council (DKN) Presidium in the periods of 2011-2016 and 2016-2021 and served as the Secretary of the Batang Toru Ecosystem Regional Working Group at the Faculty of Forestry, IPB.

Currently, he is actively serving as the Coordinator for the Acceleration of Access for the Social Forestry Acceleration Working Group in North Sumatra Province for the periods 2021-2023 and 2023-2025; Coordinator for Community Empowerment in the Mangrove Rehabilitation Team in North Sumatra for the periods 2021-2023; and as an Expert in the Lake Toba Ecosystem Rescue Team in North Sumatra since 2021. Moreover, he is actively involved in facilitating and providing expertise to various government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the Provincial Environmental and Health Agency of North Sumatra, and Forest Management Units (KPH).

Aligned with his expertise and activities, Dr. Oding Affandi is currently entrusted as the Head of the USU Faculty of Forestry Center for Social Forestry Studies and Development and as an Independent Facilitator for National Forestry Management (Registered at KLHK). In carrying out the Triple Mission of Higher Education, he actively engages in research and community service activities through grants from the Directorate General of Higher Education, USU Talent, as well as independent schemes. He also serves as a Field Supervising Lecturer (DPL) for Community Service (KKN) and Internship (PKL) programs.

In terms of organizational involvement, Kang Oding is active in professional organizations such as the Indonesian Engineers Association (PII) in the Forestry Professional Body with the level of Middle Professional Engineer (IPM), the Indonesian Forestry Academicians House (RAKI), and the Forestry Community Communication Forum (FKKM).