Blake A. Colaianne

Blake Colaianne holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State, and was a Caring and Compassion Fellow with the Prevention Research Center. His research focuses on ways to support healthy development in adolescence through school programs that promote mindfulness, compassion, and belonging. Blake teaches courses on human flourishing and mindfulness, and he facilitates contemplative trainings for students, faculty, and staff. He has collaborated with universities and school districts around the country to bring mindfulness and compassion to the forefront of education.

Prior to graduate school, Blake was a high school science teacher for five years. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Juniata College studying earth and space science and secondary education. He holds master’s degrees in earth science education from Penn State University and mind, brain, and education from Harvard University.

"I am committed to creating more caring and liberating school environments."

Cultivating compassion for self and others: A School-based pilot study for peer-nominated caring adolescents

Colaianne, B. A., Lavelle, B.D., Small, M. L., & Roeser, R. W. (2002). Cultivating compassion for self and others: A School-based pilot study for peer-nominated caring adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12795

Can the academic and experiential study of flourishing improve flourishing in college students? A multi-university study

Hirshberg, M.J., Colaianne, B.A., Greenberg, M.T., Inkelas, K. K., Davidson, R. J., Germano, D., Dunne, J. D., & Roeser, R. W. (2022). Can the academic and experiential study of flourishing improve flourishing in college students? A multi-university study. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01952-1

Does variability across three universities in the implementation of a college course on human flourishing affect student outcomes?

Inkelas, K.K., Colaianne, B.A., Hirshberg, M.J., Greenberg, M.T., Davidson, R.J., Dunne, J.D., Germano, D., & Roeser, R.W. (2021). Does variability across three universities in the implementation of a college course on human flourishing affect student outcomes? Journal of American College Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1920956

Perceptions of mindful teaching are associated with longitudinal changes in adolescents' mindfulness and compassion

Colaianne, B.A., Galla, B.M., & Roeser, R.W. (2019). Perceptions of mindful teaching are associated with longitudinal changes in adolescents' mindfulness and compassion. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0165025419870864

Compassion and human development: Current approaches and future directions

Roeser, R., Colaianne, B., & Greenberg, M. (2018). Compassion and human development: Current approaches and future Directions. Research in Human Development, (15)3-4, 238-251. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2018.1495002