IPPA Council of Advisors

The IPPA Council of Advisors is comprised of a global network of thought leaders, innovators and others with depth of experience in the science or practice of positive psychology, past-presidents of the association, and other accomplished individuals who bring their direct management experience to bear in supporting the long-term mission, strategy, business management, and operations of the organization. Collectively, the Council of Advisors brings nearly a millennium’s worth of hands-on experience to IPPA.

Marié Wissing, Ph.D. ( Through 2029 ) Professor, School of Psychosocial Behavioral Sciences North West University, South Africa

Professor Marié P. Wissing is research professor in the Africa Unit for Trans-disciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) at the North-West University in South Africa. More

She has teaching experience in clinical, general and Positive Psychology (PP) at various South African and European universities. She developed a research programme in Psychofortology (i. e. the science of psychological strengths; FORT) including several funded team projects, with also links to multidisciplinary projects. Her current research focus is on the understanding, measurement and promotion of psychosocial well-being and strengths in diverse contexts, with emphasis on meaning, goals, relational wellbeing, and cultures of positivity. She is a member of the international Eudaimonic-Hedonic Happiness Investigation (EHHI) project lead by Antonella Delle Fave. Marié is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Happiness studies, and a member of the editorial board of several other disciplinary journals. Her scientific output includes peer reviewed articles, chapters in scientific books, and books including Well-being Research in South Africa. She initiated the First PP Conference in South Africa, and the first master’s degree in Positive Psychology in Africa. 115 masters and doctoral degree students completed their studies under her (co-)supervision. She is on the Council of Advisors for the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA).

Grace Xia Zhao, Ph.D. ( Ex Officio ) Associate Professor of Music and the Music Department Chair University of La Verne in Los Angeles, California, USA

Dr. Grace Xia Zhao is a pianist, educator, and scholar whose work integrates the performing arts, liberal education, and well-being science. More

Trained as a classical musician, she holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California, where she also completed minors in Music Education, Ethnomusicology, and Electro-Acoustic Media. She also holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her creative and scholarly practice centers on music as a vehicle for human flourishing, and her research in positive higher education focuses on embedding well-being as an essential outcome of the university experience. Dr. Zhao is the founder of Project Harmonia, a creative initiative dedicated to musical approaches to well-being. She serves as Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Department, and Director of General Education at the University of La Verne, where she leads institutional efforts in integrative learning and curricular innovation. She is the current President of the Education Division of the International Positive Psychology Association.

Yukun Zhao, MAPP, Ph.D. ( Through 2027 ) Vice Director Positive Psychology Research Center, Tsinghua University, China

Dr. Yukun Zhao is the vice director of the Positive Psychology Research Center at Tsinghua University, China. He received his Ph.D. from Tsinghua University, and Master of Applied Positive Psychology from University of Pennsylvania. More

His main research interests are positive education, especially growth mindset and learning motivations. He organizes events like China International Positive Psychology Conferences, founds organizations like the Beijing Positive Psychology Association, develops programs like Positive Education that has been applied in more than 100 schools, and oversees the Positive Psychology Certificate Program at Tsinghua University that has trained more than 1000 people. His positive psychology MOOC has been watched by tens of thousands of people. He has published five books in China and edited/translated four books.