Drs. Ramlan Damanik, M.Hum. was born in Pematangsiantar on February 2, 1963. He is a permanent lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), holding the academic rank of Associate Professor (Lektor Kepala). He earned his bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, USU, in 1988. He later completed his Master's degree in Linguistics at the USU Graduate School, obtaining the degree in 2009.

He has authored several books focusing on local wisdom, culture, and semiotics, including Local Wisdom and the Functions of Traditional Malay Houses in North Sumatra (USU Press, 2017); Meaning, Symbols, and Functions in Simalungun: A Semiotic Study (USU Press, 2018); The Meaning of Traditional Wedding Attire in Instilling Simalungun Cultural Values (USU Press, 2018); Batu Bara Songket: An Analysis of Functions and Meanings (USU Press, 2019); and Character Values in Traditional Simalungun Games (Gerhana Publishing, 2019).