In memoriam: Emeritus Professor Ronald Taft AM

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Emeritus Professor Ronald Taft AM, a distinguished figure in the world of psychology and a true Australian luminary.

Born in Canterbury, Melbourne, on June 3, 1920, Professor Taft passed away peacefully on 22 October, at 103 years of age.

Professor Taft's remarkable life was marked by an unwavering commitment to the field of psychology, both nationally and internationally. His scholarly pursuits spanned a multitude of disciplines, including social values, cross-cultural psychology, personality assessment, and the psychology of immigration. He was a trailblazer in understanding the immigrant experience, a subject he delved into as early as 1952. His seminal work, "From Stranger to Citizen" (1966), remains a cornerstone in the study of immigrant adjustment and integration.

Professor Taft began teaching as a part-time Tutor in Psychology at the University of Melbourne in 1946. He has taught at The University of Melbourne (1946-1948: 1966-1968), The University of Western Australia (1951-1965), and at Monash University (1968-1981), where he was Professor of Social Psychology until retirement in 1981.

Throughout his career, Professor Taft held leadership positions in prominent psychological organisations, serving as the President of the Australian Psychological Society and as the President of the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology. He was a Fellow of The Academy of Social Sciences in Australia for over five decades.

In 2017, Emeritus Professor Ronald Taft was honoured with the Medal in the Order of Australia for his remarkable service to education, research in psychology, and his community.