Diana P. Paolitto, Ed.D. is a senior advisor and psychologist at the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy. Her current interest and research is focused on the development of a philanthropic attitude, identity and engagement in young women. In 2010 Dr. Paolitto completed a co-authored study with Louise Sawyer, J.D. entitled ” The Impact of Experiential Philanthropy Courses on Undergraduate Women,” which detailed the intellectual and personal development of young women who took such courses in three New England colleges. The results of this in depth study also identified four distinct steps in the development of a young woman’s philanthropic identity.

Dr. Paolitto currently works with North Bridge Advisory Group, where she consults on philanthropy education projects, including workshop design, program development, and curriculum development.  Dr. Paolitto’s long-standing career interest has centered on resilience in children, adolescents and their families as well as the mentoring of young adults. In addition to her recent role as psychologist in the Wayland Public Schools, she has been an educator, teacher, consultant, curriculum designer, program evaluator, and speaker locally in Massachusetts as well as nationwide for such organizations as the United States Air Force Academy, the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, and National 4-H.

For thirty years Dr. Paolitto has lectured and written widely in the field of values and moral education, including co-authoring the book, Promoting Moral Growth: From Piaget to Kohlberg, now in its third edition, with translations in both Spanish and Japanese.

She earned her B.A. from Smith College, M.A.T. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Ed.D. from Boston University. She has held a tenured associate professorship in Counseling Psychology at Boston College as well as research and teaching positions at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.