About Marilyn
Marilyn is a developmental psychologist, educator, researcher, writer and speaker who is passionate about helping young people and organizations achieve their highest potential and maximize outcomes for the public good.
Her current work focuses on how adults foster the development of positive internal strengths in young people and how youth become engaged citizens in a democratic society. She is author of Roots of Action, where she examines the underlying foundations of growth -- the experiences and relationships that help young people discover purpose, meaning, initiative, critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and other internal strengths that foster lives of well-being. She also writes an online column for Psychology Today, The Moment of Youth, and her articles are found on many other websites.
Marilyn is co-founder and president of the National ParentNet Association, a nonprofit organization whose 15-year mission has been to build family, school, and community partnerships that support youth.
With an extensive background in organization development, adult education, and experiential training, Marilyn has led hundreds of workshops in leadership, communications, and strategic planning throughout the U.S. and Canada. She has worked with or advised a diverse group of organizations, including the American Red Cross; SmithKline Corporation; Raychem Corporation; University Associates; and Islandwood, a Northwest environmental learning center. She is currently working as an advisr to GenerationOn, the youth division of Points of Light Institute.
As a businesswoman, she has been a general partner and board member of three highly successful privately-held corporations. Her speaking background includes keynotes for diverse audiences such as the National Head Start Association and Los Angeles Women in Business.
Marilyn is a Fellow in the Institute for Social Innovation at Fielding Graduate University, involved in several research projects related to positive youth development. She has a Ph.D. in Human Development and a M.A. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding and an B.A. in sociology from the University of Michigan. Fielding Graduate University is known for producing scholar-practitioners who can translate academic research for popular audiences and who have a willingness to serve others as ethical agents of change. This is the lens in which Marilyn views herself and her current work.
Marilyn lives in Bainbridge Island, WA, with her husband, Jay, an architect. They are both active in community organizations and enjoy traveling, music, theatre, and good food. They love exploring the Northwest with their Ridgeback, Sophie. Together, they have a blended family of 6 grown children and 4 grandchildren.
Recent Interview
“Interview with Positive Youth Development Expert Marilyn Price-Mitchell PhD,” by Joe Wilner in his column “Adventures in Positive Psychology” at PsychCentral. (2011)
Selected Articles & Publications
In addition to the articles on her blog at RootsOfAction, Marilyn's articles are also published elsewhere, including:
Price-Mitchell, M. (2012) The psychology of youth sports, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2012) Helping children hone their thinking skills, A Hopeful Sign.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Shift your parenting mindset this New Year's, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Mindful gift giving for families, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2001) 'Tis the season for giving, A Hopeful Sign.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Three ways to evaluate summer programs for teenagers, Volunteer Corps.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Origins of compassion begin in childhood, A Hopeful Sign.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Classical music training: An engine of social change, shorts.sounds.social, issn 1839-776X.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) How society grades teachers, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Smart kids face challenges too, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Are we raising good citizens? Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011) Will small-part fixes save public schools? Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Helping children develop compassionate muscles, HandsOn Network.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Mistakes improve children's learning, Psychology Today
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Family-school partnerships for the 21st century, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Classical music, youth & social change, A Hopeful Sign
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). The fallacy of good grades: Why tests don’t measure your child’s most important strengths, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). What dads need to know: Helping kids learn from mistakes, Family Man Online.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2001), Change a child’s life: Be a role model, A Hopeful Sign
Price-Mitchell, M. (2001). Beyond the classroom: How after-school programs keep teens engaged and optimistic, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). How teenagers become passionate about giving: Five steps that transform youth into engaged citizens, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Oh, say, can you see? A story of pride, compassion, and positive youth development, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). A passion to serve: How young people get hooked for life, A Hopeful Sign
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Applause: Children, music, and social change, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2001). How youth become passionate about giving, Volunteer Spot.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011), What teens learn by overcoming challenges? Initiative, Psychology Today.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Book review of School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Preparing Educators and Improving Schools. The School Community Journal, 21(1).
Price-Mitchell, M. (2011). Creating hopeful futures for youth. A Hopeful Sign.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2010). Civic learning at the edge: Transformative stories of highly engaged youth. Doctoral dissertation. Fielding Graduate University. Santa Barbara, CA.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2009). Boundary dynamics: Implications for building parent-school partnerships. The School Community Journal, 19(2).
Price-Mitchell, M. (2009). ParentNet as a community of practice. National ParentNet Association.
Price-Mitchell, M. (2008). Where the sea meets the land: Remembering Gregory Bateson. Paper. Fielding Graduate University.
Price-Mitchell, M., & Grijalva, S. (2007). ParentNet at your school: An introductory guide for parent leaders, educators and trainers. Redmond, WA: National ParentNet Association.
Price-Mitchell, M., & Grijalva, S. (2006). Developing the fully-engaged parent: A model for understanding parent involvement in education. Redmond, WA: National ParentNet Association.
Price-Mitchell, M., & Grijalva, S. (2005). ParentNet training manual: A complete source of workshop designs, structured activities, handouts and resources to train ParentNet volunteer facilitators. Redmond, WA: National ParentNet Association.
Price-Mitchell, M., & Grijalva, S. (2000). ParentNet volunteer handbook: A guide to facilitating successful ParentNet meetings at your school. Redmond, WA: National ParentNet Association.
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Marilyn's resume is available to prospective clients upon request. . |
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My Current Projects
• My blog, Roots of Action, shares stories, research, and insights on the underlying foundations of child & youth development.
• My online column, The Moment of Youth at Psychology Today, examines the positive developmental building blocks of adolescence.
• I am writing a book that combines research in the field of positive youth development with my study on civically-engaged young people.
• I am working with GenerationOn, the youth division of Points of Light Institute, whose mission is to "inspire, equip, and mobilize youth to take action that changes the world and themselves through service."
• As a Fellow at the Institute for Social Innovation at Fielding Graduate University, I am involved in several research projects. I also teach a seminar for doctoral students, "Research, Mind, and Technology," that explores how software tools can help researchers organize, manage citations, recognize patterns & interconnections, and analyze and synthesize data. Yes, I have a strong geeky side!
• I work as Research Advisor to YOSAL - Youth Orchestra Salinas, an El Sistema inspired program that provides classical music training to children living in poverty, aiming to bring about positive social change to marginalized youth in the migrant farming community of Salinas, California. I help align their program with current research in the field of youth development and oversee evaluative research efforts.
• Supported by the Elizabeth Douvan Alumni Award from Fielding Graduate University, I lead workshops that examine how families, schools, and communities foster future generations of participatory citizens. If your school is interested in hosting a workshop, please contact me. Space is limited.
