Professional Expertise
Art Sesma is a researcher and instructor specializing in the areas of:
- Conceptualization and measurement of Developmental Assets
- Social development in middle childhood and adolescence
- Risk and resilience models for children at risk
- Developmental theory
Contributions to Search Institute
As a research scientist for Search Institute, Dr. Sesma is involved in the following projects:
- Synthesizing research and theory around the early elementary years in order to begin to map out the landscape of positive development for this age group;
- Construction of a parent-survey measuring assets in children in grades 4–6;
- Collaborating with researchers in Texas on a pilot and large-scale study using a Spanish version of Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes & Behaviors;
- Creating a new dataset from the 1999–2000 school year to replace the 1996–1997 dataset that has been the basis for all Search Institute publications and presentations that use data.
Publications
- Collins, W. A., Gleason, T., & Sesma, A. Jr. (1997). “Internalization, Autonomy, and Relationships: Development during Adolescence.” In J. E. Grusec & L. Kuczynski (Eds.), Handbook of Parenting and the Transmission of Values, (pp.78–99). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
- Masten, A. S., & Sesma, A. Jr. (1997). “Studies of Children Homeless in Minnesota: A Report for the Community.” The College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota.
- Masten, A. S., Sesma, A. Jr., & Si-Asar, R., Lawrence, C., Miliotis, D., & Dionne, J. A. (1997). “Educational Risks for Children Experiencing Homelessness.” Journal of School Psychology, 35(1), 27–46.
- Miliotis, D., Sesma, A. Jr., & Masten, A. S. (1999). “Parenting as a Protective Process for School Success in Children from Homeless Families.” Early Education and Development, 10(2), 111–133.
- Scales, P. C., Sesma, A. Jr., & Bolstrom, B. (2003). _Coming into Their Own: How Developmental Assets Promote Positive Growth in Middle Childhood.” Minneapolis: Search Institute.
- Tout, K. A., & Sesma, A. Jr. (1997). “Building Strong Foundations in Early Childhood: A Developmental Approach to Human Capital.” Chicago Policy Review, 1(2), 51–64.
Education
- B.A. in psychology (1992), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Ph.D. in child psychology (2000), Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota
Professional Organizations
- Society for Research on Child Development
- Society for Research on Adolescence
