Abstract
It is with profound shock and deep sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Li Liu, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology. He passed away from illness on October 29, 2025, in Beijing at the age of 62.
Professor Liu was born in November 1962 in Hailar, Inner Mongolia. He graduated from Beijing Normal University in 1987 and stayed on to teach. From 1996 to 2003, he pursued graduate studies in Social Psychology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. After receiving his doctoral degree, he returned to Beijing Normal University, serving as a Professor of Psychology in the Faculty of Psychology and taking on major organizational roles at the university and beyond. Throughout his life, Professor Liu was committed to education, held himself to high standards, and approached his scholarly work with rigor and precision.
Professor Liu was instrumental in shaping the Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology (JPRP) into its current form. Established in 1984, JPRP experienced a pivotal transition under his guidance when he successfully managed the transfer of the journal's sponsorship and operations to Beijing Normal University in 2016. Under his visionary leadership, JPRP's international reputation and impact grew significantly, culminating in a 2024 Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of 2.4, according to Web of Science. Without question, Professor Liu was the founding father of today's JPRP.
Professor Liu envisioned JPRP as a dynamic academic platform for the psychology community across the Pacific Rim and worldwide to promptly share new research findings. As a comprehensive psychology journal, JPRP publishes high-quality research spanning diverse subfields of psychology. Adopting an Open Access publishing model and the principles of Open Science, JPRP is committed to openness and transparency throughout the research and publication process. Prof. Liu dedicated significant effort to broadening the journal's international scope by focusing on globally pressing issues and shifting attention toward non-WEIRD populations.
Professor Liu's legacy will endure in the many lives he influenced, the pioneering research he promoted, and the lasting mark he left on JPRP. Our editorial team remains committed to fulfilling his vision and sustaining the journal's progress and resilience despite this significant loss.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Professor Liu's loved ones during this challenging time. He will be profoundly missed, and his spirit will continue to inspire the psychology community.
Rest in peace, dear colleague and friend.
Sincerely,
Editorial Board of Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology