Search Institute

Professional Overview

Eugene C. Roehlkepartain is Search Institute’s vice president, responsible for overall strategic leadership for the nonprofit organization. He oversees the development and implementation of strategic priorities, builds strategic alliances, and works to build a team that will advance the institute’s vision and mission. He particularly provides leadership in facilitating knowledge exchange between research and practice.

Prior to being named vice president in 2008, Roehlkepartain served as the senior advisor to the president, chief communication officer, and director of publishing and communication. Since joining Search Institute in 1991, he has helped to expand the nonprofit organization and its reach through establishing a publishing program, developing communication strategies, and bridging between the institute’s scientific research and its community engagement.

Roehlkepartain is widely recognized as an expert in youth development in community contexts, with a particular specialty in the role of religious institutions and spiritual development in young people’s healthy development. He has also worked extensively on the role of parents and families in positive development and has been instrumental in developing the institute’s work on 40 Developmental Assets and its Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth initiative.

Roehlkepartain is also co-director of Search Institute’s Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence, an international initiative to advance knowledge and practice in this understudied area of human development. The core of this work involves a series of studies that will advance the theory, definition, and scientific foundations of spiritual development.

He also serves as the community-based organization advisor for the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, a project supported by Learn and Serve America. He also consults with corporations and other national partners to bring innovative solutions to pressing challenges in the lives of young people and their communities.

Major Project Leadership

• The Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence, Search Institute (2006–2008), with support from the John Templeton Foundation.
• MVParents, a national, multifaceted initiative to support parents with encouragement and tools to be the “most valuable players” in their children’s lives.
• Inspired to Serve: Youth-Led Interfaith Action, a collaborative project with Interfaith Youth Core that is funded by Learn and Serve America (2006–2009). This initiative seeks to mobilize America’s faith communities to engage young people in interfaith, asset-based service-learning.

Roehlkepartain has previously led or co-led a number of Search Institute projects, including the following:

• Exploring the Science and Theology of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence (2003–2005, with support from the John Templeton Foundation);
• Growing to Greatness: The State of Service-Learning in the United States (with National Youth Leadership Council, 2004–2005, with support from State Farm);
• Positive Youth Development: Advancing the Field’s Intellectual and Scientific Foundations (2002–2007, with support from Lilly Endowment);
• Building Strong Families (2002–2004, with the YMCA of the USA);
• Uniting Congregations for Youth Development (1995–1999, with the support of DeWitt Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund).
• Habits of the Heart: Nurturing Commitments to Giving and Serving among Youth (with the Indiana Humanities Council, 1998–2001, with support from Lilly Endowment);
• Communities as Places of Learning: Building Bridges between Youth Service-Learning and the Volunteer Sector (with National Youth Leadership Council, 1994–1995, and support from the Points of Light Foundation).

Selected Publications

Roehlkepartain has written or edited more than 25 books and 200 popular and academic articles for various newspapers, magazines, and journals on youth development, families and parenting, community building, spiritual development, and related issues. His major publications include the following:

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. (with Garst, B. A., Bialeschki, M. D.) (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. (2007). “Building Bridges for the Sake of Youth: Community- and Faith-Based Youth Workers Have Much to Learn from Each Other.” Search Institute Insights & Evidence, 4 (2), 1–11.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2007). “Benefits of Community-Based Service-Learning” (fact sheet). Scotts Valley, CA: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse).

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2007). “Service-Learning with Disadvantaged Youth” (fact sheet). Scotts Valley, CA: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (www.servicelearning.org).

Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Bailis, L. (2007). “Developing Partnerships for Service-Learning: Starting Points for Community-Based Organizations” (fact sheet). Scotts Valley, CA: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (www.servicelearning.org).

Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Scales, P. C. (2007). “Developmental Assets: A Framework for Enriching Service-Learning” (fact sheet). Scotts Valley, CA: National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (www.servicelearning.org).

Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Friedman, J. (2006). “Supporting Families in Serving Others: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies.” In Leif Kehrwald (Ed.) Families and Faith: A Vision and Practice for the Parish Leaders (pp.133–151). Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications.

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., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Neal, M., Kielsmier, 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.

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. Portland, OR: Rowman and Littlefield.

Benson, P. L., Scales, P. C., Sesma, A. Jr., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2005). “Adolescent Spirituality.” In Moore, K. A., & Lippman, L. (Eds). What Do Children Need to Flourish? Conceptualizing and Measuring Indicators of Positive Development (pp. 25–40). New York: Springer.

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. (2005). “Asset Mapping.” In C. B. Fisher & R. M. Lerner (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Applied Developmental Science, Vol. 1 (pp. 119–122). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Roehlkepartain, J. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2005). Embracing Parents: How Your Congregation Can Strengthen Families. Nashville: Abingdon.

Scales, P. C., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2005). “Can Service-Learning Help Reduce the Achievement Gap? New Research Points toward the Potential of Service-Learning for Low-Income Students.” In National Youth Leadership Council, Growing to Greatness 2005: The State of Service-Learning in the United States (pp. 10–22). St. Paul, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.

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.

Kielsmeier, J., Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., and Neal, M. (2004). “Preliminary Findings: Community Service and Service-Learning in U.S. Public Schools, 2004.” In National Youth Leadership Council, Growing to Greatness 2004: The State of Service-Learning Project (pp. 6–11). St. Paul, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.

Lippman, L., Michelsen, E., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2004). “Indicators of the Social Context of Families: The Measurement of Family Religiosity and Spirituality.” Unpublished paper prepared for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Contract No.: HHS-100-01-0011).

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2004). “Exploring Scientific and Theological Perspectives on Children’s Spirituality.” In Ratcliff, D. (Ed.). Children’s Spirituality: Christian Perspectives, Research, and Applications (pp. 120–132). Eugene, OR: Cascades Books.

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., & 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 Kielsmeier, J., & Neal, M., & McKinnon, M. (Eds.) Growing to Greatness 2004: The State of Service-Learning in the United States. 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 Lerner, R. M., Jacobs, F., & Wertlieb, D. (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). “Engaging Families in Service: Rationale and Resources for Congregations.” Family Ministry: Empowering through Faith, 17 (3).

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2003). “Faith Communities: Untapped Allies in Service-Learning.” NYLC Generator, 21 (3), pp. 20-24.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2003). “Making Room at the Table for Everyone: Interfaith Engagement in Positive Child and Adolescent Development.” In Lerner, R. M., Jacobs, F., & Wertlieb, D. (Eds). Handbook of Applied Developmental Science, vol. 3: Promoting Positive Youth and Family Development (pp. 535–563). Thousand Oaks, CA; Sage Publications.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Benson, P. L., & Sesma, A. Jr. (2003). “Signs of Progress in Putting Children First: Developmental Assets among Youth in St. Louis Park, 1997–2001.” Minneapolis: Search Institute.

Scales, P. C., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2003, October). “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. (2001). Grading Grown-Ups: American Adults Report on Their Real Relationships with Youth. Minneapolis: Lutheran Brotherhood and Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Andress, I. S., Griffin-Wiesner, J., & Hinchey, M. (2000). Strategic Youth Ministry. Loveland, CO: Group Books.

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, J. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2000). Prescription for a Healthy Church: Ministry Ideas to Nurture Whole People. Loveland, CO: Group Books.

Benson, P. L, Scales, P. C., Leffert, N., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1999). A Fragile Foundation: The State of Developmental Assets among American Youth. Minneapolis: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1999). Kids Have a Lot to Give: Congregations Nurturing in Youth the Habits of Giving and Serving for the Common Good. Minneapolis: Search 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., & Andress, I. S. (1995). “Congregations at Crossroads: A National Study of Youth and Adults in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.” Minneapolis: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1995). A Practical Guide for Developing Agency/School Partnerships for Service-Learning. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1995). Everyone Wins When Youth Serve. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Scales, P. C. (1995). Youth Development in Congregations: An Exploration of the Potential and Barriers. Minneapolis: Search Institute.

Benson, P. L., Sharma, A. R., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1994). Growing up Adopted: A Portrait of Adolescents and Their Families. Minneapolis: Search Institute.

Benson, P. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1993). Beyond Leaf Raking: Learning to Serve/Serving to Learn. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1993). The Teaching Church: Moving Christian Education to Center Stage. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (Ed.) (1992). The Youth Bible: The New Century Version. Loveland, CO: Word Publishing/Group Books.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1988). Youth Ministry in City Churches. Loveland, CO: Group Books.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (Ed.) (1987). The Youth Ministry Resource Book. Loveland, CO: Group Books.

Professional Involvement

• Editorial Advisory Board, Lifelong Faith (2007–)
• Member, International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry (2004–)
• Review Board, Family and Community Ministries: Empowering through Faith (2007–2010)
• Advisory Council, Congregation-Based Child Care Study, School of Social Work, Baylor University (2006)
• Governing Council, National Parenting Education Network (2005–2006)
• Task Force on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Minneapolis/St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA (2005)
• Board of Directors, Doing Good Together, Minneapolis, Minnesota (2004–)
• Advisor, Faith and Service Initiative, Center for Family and Community Ministries, Baylor University, Waco, Texas (2003)
• Advisory Committee, The State of K–12 Service-Learning, National Youth Leadership Council, St. Paul, Minnesota (2003–2005)
• Member, Minnesota Statewide Healthy Relationships Consortium, Minnesota Department of Health and the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota (2003)
• Member, Editorial Council, Family Ministry: Empowering through Faith (2002–2005)
• Member, Committee on Justice for Children and Their Families, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (2001–)

Professional History

Prior to his work at Search Institute, Roehlkepartain was a senior book editor at Group Publishing, Loveland, Colorado, and an assistant editor for The Christian Century, Chicago, Illinois.

Education

Roehlkepartain has a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and religion, Baylor University, Waco, Texas. He is currently in the Education, Curriculum, and Instruction doctoral program the University of Minnesota with a specialization in Family, Youth, and Community.