Blake Colaianne

Contemplative Practice Facilitator

Blake (he/him) holds caring, safe contemplative practice space online for the Center for Compassion Studies. He is a research and teaching professor at Penn State University in the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. His research focuses on ways to support healthy development in high school and college students through programs that promote mindfulness and compassion. He teaches courses on human flourishing and mindfulness at Penn State and facilitates contemplative trainings for students, teachers, and community members. Much of Blake’s own contemplative training has been with Courage of Care, a nonprofit organization focused on building caring cultures of practice. 

Blake is a first-generation college student from Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Before grad school, he was a high school science teacher for five years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Juniata College and holds master’s degrees from Penn State and Harvard University. He earned his PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State in 2021.