Professional Overview
Eugene C. Roehlkepartain is Vice President of Research and Development at Search Institute, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization focused on discovering what kids need to succeed. He guides the organization’s efforts to advance understanding the healthy development of children and youth in their families, schools, and communities. In addition to administrative oversight and strategic planning, he works with a team of researchers, practitioners, and other specialists to design and implement major research projects, collaborative partnerships, and field initiatives that advance the field and Search Institute’s mission.
Roehlkepartain is widely recognized as an expert in child, youth, and family development in community contexts. Particular areas of interest include family strengths, community engagement with families, youth development and thriving, international youth development, service-learning, youth philanthropy, linking youth development with financial literacy, and spiritual development. He is author, co-author, or named editor of more than 200 publications, including 17 books, 20 reports, 30 scientific articles or chapters, and more than 100 magazine, newspaper, and newsletter articles for practitioners and the general public.
Since joining Search Institute in 1991, Roehlkepartain has contributed to Search Institute’s work on Developmental Assets, the growth of its community transformation approach, the introduction of the theory and research on youth thriving, with the central idea of the power of young people’s “sparks” or passions, and the framework of Family Assets. In previous positions, he has also helped to expand the nonprofit organization and its reach through establishing a publishing program and developing the links between the Institute’s scientific research and its community engagement strategies, tools, and services.
Education
Roehlkepartain is a doctoral candidate in the Education, Curriculum, and Instruction department at the University of Minnesota, with a specialization in Family, Youth, and Community. He has a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
Selected Publications
Benson, P. L, Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Scales, P. C. (2012). Spirituality and positive youth development. In L. Miller (Ed.). The Oxford handbook of psychology and spirituality (pp. 468-485). New York: Oxford University Press.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2012). Remembering a pioneer in positive youth development: The legacy of Peter L. Benson (1945 – 2011). Reclaiming Children and Youth, 21 (1), 14-15.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2012). Peter L. Benson: Spinning youth development toward hope and thriving. Applied Developmental Science, 16 (1), 31-35. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2012.642775.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2012). “It’s the way you look at things”: How young people around the world understand and experience spiritual development. In K. E. Larson (Ed.). Understanding children’s spirituality: Theology, research, and practice (pp. 152-172). Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2012). Speaking of money: Equipping youth and families to navigate finances in their everyday lives. Search Institute Insights & Evidence, 6 (1), 1-12.
Scales, P. C., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2012). Peter Lorimer Benson (1946 – 2011). American Psychologist, 67 (4), 322. doi: 10.1037/a0028171.
Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Fraher, K. (2012). Do developmental assets make a difference in majority-world contexts? A preliminary study of the relationships between developmental assets and selected international development priorities. A working paper by Search Institute for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Syvertsen, A. K., Roehlkepartain, E., & Scales, P. C. (2012). Key findings from The American Family Assets Study. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.
Benson, P. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2011). When ‘good enough’ isn’t really good enough: Aiming for the ‘best’ for all young people. In T. P. Jackson (Ed.). The best love of the child: Being loved and being taught to love as the first human right (pp. 19 – 46). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Benson, P. L, Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C. & Leffert, N. (2011). A fragile foundation: The state of developmental assets among American youth (2nd Ed.). Minneapolis: Search Institute.
Roehlkepartain, E. C., Benson, P. L., Scales, P. C. (2011). Spiritual identity: Contextual perspectives. In Schwartz, S. J., Luyckx, K., & Vignoles, V. L. (Eds.). The handbook of identity theory and research: Vol. 2—Domains and categories (pp. 545- 562). New York: Springer.
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2011). Adolescent thriving: The role of sparks, relationships, and empowerment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 263-277. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-010-9578-6.
Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Benson, P. L. (2010). Teen voice 2010: Relationships that matter to America’s 15-year-olds. Minneapolis and Richfield, MN: Search Institute and Best Buy Children’s Foundation.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2009). Exploring your community’s strengths and hopes: A step-by-step guide for a community listening project. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2009). Service-learning in community-based organizations: A practical guide to starting and sustaining high-quality programs. Scotts Valley, CA: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (www.servicelearning.org).
Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Benson, P. L. (2009). Teen voice 2009: The untapped strengths of 15-year-olds. Minneapolis and Richfield, MN: Search Institute and Best Buy Children’s Foundation.
Benson, P. L., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Hong (Eds.) (2008). Spiritual Development: New Directions for Youth Development, 118. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Garza, P., Artman, S., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2007). Is there common ground? An exploratory study of the interests and needs of community-based and faith-based youth workers. Washington, DC: National Collaboration for Youth; and Minneapolis: Search Institute.
Roehlkepartain, E. C., King, P. E., Wagener, L. M., & Benson, P. L. (Eds.) (2006). The handbook of spiritual development in childhood and adolescence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Sesma, A. Jr., & van Dulmen, M. (2006). The role of developmental assets in predicting academic achievement: A longitudinal study. Journal of Adolescence, 29 (5), 692-708.
Yust, K. M., Johnson, A. N., Sasso, S. E., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (Eds.) (2006). Nurturing child and adolescent spirituality: Perspectives from the world’s religious traditions. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.
Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Neal, M., Kielsmeier, J. C, & Benson, P. L. (2006). Reducing academic achievement gaps: The role of community service and service learning. Journal of Experiential Education, 29, 38-60.
Mannes, M., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Benson, P. L. (2005). Unleashing the power of community to strengthen the well-being of children, youth, and families: An asset-building approach. Child Welfare, 84 (2), 233-250.
Roehlkepartain, E. C., Hong, K. L., & Scales, P. C. (2005). Boosting student achievement by building developmental assets: New research strengthens the case. Minnesota School Board Association Journal, 58 (2), 16-18.
Roehlkepartain, J. L, & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2005). Embracing parents: How your congregation can strengthen families. Nashville: Abingdon.
Benson, P. L., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Sesma, A., Jr. (2004). Tapping the power of community: The potential of asset building to strengthen substance abuse prevention. Search Institute Insights & Evidence 2 (1). 1-14.
Roehlkepartain, E. C., Mannes, M., Scales, P. C., Lewis, S., & Bolstrom, B. (2004). Building strong families 2004: A study of African American and Latino/Latina parents in the United States (summary report). Minneapolis: Search Institute, and Chicago: YMCA of the USA.
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Hintz, N. R., Sullivan, T. K., & Mannes, M. (2004). The role of parental status and child age in the engagement of children and youth with adults outside their families. Journal of Family Issues, 25 (4), 735- 760.
Scales, P. C., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2004) Community service and service-learning in U.S. Public Schools, 2004: Findings from a national survey. St. Paul, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.
Scales, P. C., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2004) Service to others: A “gateway asset” for school success and healthy development. In J. Kielsmeier, M. Neal, & M. McKinnon (Eds.) Growing to greatness 2004: The state of service-learning in the United States (pp. 26-32). St. Paul, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.
Benson, P. L., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Rude, S. P. (2003). Spiritual development in childhood and adolescence: Toward a field of inquiry. Applied Developmental Science, 7 (3), pp. 204-212.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2003). Building strengths, deepening faith: Understanding and enhancing youth development in Protestant congregations. In R. M. Lerner, F. Jacobs, & D. Wertlieb (Eds). Handbook of applied developmental science, vol. 3: Promoting positive youth and family development (pp. 515-534). Thousand Oaks, CA; Sage Publications.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2003). Making room at the table for everyone: Interfaith engagement in positive child and adolescent development. In R. M. Lerner, F. Jacobs, & D. Wertlieb (Eds). Handbook of applied developmental science, vol. 3: Promoting positive youth and family development (pp. 535-563). Thousand Oaks, CA; Sage Publications.
Scales, P. C., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2003). Boosting student achievement: New research on the power of developmental assets. Search Institute Insights & Evidence 1 (1), 1-10.
Sesma, A., Jr., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2003). Unique strengths, shared strengths: Developmental assets among youth of color. Search Institute Insights & Evidence 1 (2), 1-13.
Roehlkepartain, E. C., Scales, P. C., Rude, S. P., & Roehlkepartain, J. L. (2002). Building strong families: A preliminary survey on what parents need to succeed. Chicago, IL: YMCA of the USA; and Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2001). An asset approach to positive community change. Minneapolis: Search Institute.
Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Hintz, N. R., Sullivan, T. K., & Mannes, M. (2001). The role of neighborhood and community in building developmental assets for children and youth: A national study of social norms among American adults, Journal of Community Psychology, 29 (6), 703-727.
Roehlkepartain, E. C., Bright, T., Margolis-Rupp, B., & Nelson, L. I. (2000). An asset builder’s guide to service-learning. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.
Roehlkepartain, E. C., Naftali, E. D., & Musegades, L. (2000). Growing up generous: Engaging youth in giving and serving. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1998). Building assets in congregations: A practical guide for helping youth grow up healthy. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.
Benson, P. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1993). Beyond leaf raking: Learning to serve/serving to learn. Nashville, TN: Abingdon.
Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1993). The teaching church: Moving Christian education to center stage. Nashville, TN: Abingdon.
