
Introduction & Projects
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."
Recent Publications
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
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
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
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
Related News

September 22, 2022
Cultivating adolescents’ compassion skills for the self and other
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March 09, 2021
Penn State community invited to join in meditation for Wellness Day
Guided meditations promote calm, compassion, and a sense of peace
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August 17, 2020
Caring and Compassion Fellow Blake Colaianne sets his sights on helping students and schools
While standing in front of a classroom, Blake Colaianne realized that every day he was suppressing some of his humanity--his joys, stress, worries--in order to do his job. He also realized that his students were doing the same thing. This realization set Colaianne on a path that led him to the Prevention Research Center (PRC).
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June 22, 2020
'Human Flourishing' course to support students during challenging times
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — University students and educators alike are grappling with turbulent times, and Penn State’s 3-credit general education course on the “Art and Science of Human Flourishing” (HDFS 108N) is being fine-tuned to guide students in how to engage in compassionate dialogue about racism, COVID-19 and our social responsibilities to each other.
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June 18, 2019
Bringing mindfulness to the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Caring and compassion researchers will be featured at Art of Discovery booth July 12
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