Shelby Andress, Adjunct Senior Consultant and Facilitator, Search Institute   Infusing Assets into Your Organization

Shelby Andress is a national leader in facilitating organizational and community change that promotes the well-being of adolescents and children. Andress, who developed Search Institute’s asset-based planning services for community initiatives and large-scale organizations, has served as a consultant, facilitator, speaker, and trainer with executives, boards, and communities in more than 450 locations in 40 states and Canada. These organizations have included community collaborations, mental health agencies, health care organizations, community and social services, faith communities, educational systems, foundations, and government organizations. She is currently developing national training programs for facilitators and planners who work in asset-building communities and organizations. 

Andress joined Search Institute in 1964. Before developing consulting services for the organization, she served as Search Institute’s Administrator and as Project Coordinator for several major research projects, including the national study Young Adolescents and Their Parents.  Ms. Andress has a BA in English from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN and has a number of major publications to her name, including: "Evaluation: 3M Prevention Program Focus-Alcohol and Other Drugs" (Search Institute, 1997) in which she was co-author, "Rural Partners in Prevention: Evaluators' Report on a Five-Year CSAP Project" (Search Institute, 1997) in which she was co-author, Your Congregation's FUTURE: A Guide for Congregational Leaders (Search Institute, 1996) in whih she was co-author, Touchstones for Leading Visionary Change video (Search Institute, 1996), "Public/Private Partnerships on Behalf of Children in Public-Housing Communities: Perspectives on a Los Angeles County Experience" (Search Institute, 1995) in which she was co-author, "Kellogg Youth Initiative Project: History and Future Directions" (Search Institute, 1995) in which she was co-author, "Change Takes Time: A Conceptual Model for Planned Change" (Search Institute, 1990) in whcih she was co-author, and "Readiness for Change Survey and Profile" (Search Institute, 1978) in which she was co-author. 

Andress speaks at the local, state, and national level on living with Alzheimer’s Disease in one’s family. She has spoken on this topic at conferences and has been featured in videos, newspapers, and on national television on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Andress also volunteers in leadership positions at her congregation, Augsburg College (her alma mater), and Plymouth Youth Center, a Minneapolis agency that serves children and youth living in low-income communities.

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