Alyson Panaro MA'05, EdD ’25 has dedicated her career to helping others find balance, growth, and purpose.
After earning her master’s in school counseling from the School of Education and Human Development, she began working as a middle school counselor, serving students and families in both urban and suburban communities. Along the way, she became a licensed professional counselor, providing outpatient therapy to adolescents, young adults, and families.
This blend of school-based and clinical experience shaped Panaro’s holistic approach to counseling, one that emphasizes connection, resilience, and proactive wellness. Over time, she became increasingly interested in how educational systems could better support not only students but also the well-being of educators and staff. This inquiry led her to Fairfield to pursue a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership.
"Fairfield’s EdD in Educational Leadership appealed to me because of its emphasis on leadership, reflective practice, self awareness and systems-level change. I was drawn to the program’s focus on transforming systems through research-driven leadership, and I wanted to explore how educational structures could better support both student and staff well-being," said Panaro.
In 2021, the School of Education and Human Development launched a three-year, online, low-residency Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership program. Students in the program choose between two EdD track options: the teacher leader track, designed for experienced educators aiming to spark meaningful change in K–12 settings; or the higher education administration track, tailored for professionals advocating for equity and innovation in postsecondary environments. With unmatched faculty support and rigorous course content, Fairfield’s EdD in Educational Leadership program was listed among Forbes Advisor’s Best Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership Programs of 2024.
As a member of the program’s inaugural graduating class in May 2025, Panaro describes the experience as transformative. Grounded in Fairfield’s Jesuit value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, the EdD program reflected her belief that true educational success requires nurturing both academic and emotional growth. The program’s focus on reflective leadership, systems-level thinking, and practitioner-based research allowed her to connect her passions for education, mental health, and organizational wellness.
Her dissertation, Middle School Counselors: Training, Stress, and Wellness Practices, explored how school counselors manage the increasing challenges of their profession. Panaro’s research revealed a clear gap between the ideal role of school counselors, as outlined by the American School Counselor Association, and the daily realities that often lead to stress and burnout. Through her study of wellness practices such as mindfulness, physical activity, and self-compassion, she identified how these habits can reduce counselor stress and, in turn, improve student outcomes.
Today, those findings serve as the foundation of her professional philosophy. Panaro integrates her research into wellness programming, professional development, and systemic support initiatives that underscore how prioritizing educator wellness fosters healthier, more effective learning environments for students.
Fairfield’s EdD program provided the structure and mentorship that helped her translate research into practice. Courses in leadership, data-informed decision-making, and mental health in schools deepened her understanding of how organizational health impacts human wellness. Faculty mentors Associate Professor Paula Gill-Lopez, PhD and Professor Bob Hannafin, PhD encouraged her to bridge theory with real-world application, helping her cultivate a leadership style grounded in compassion, ethics, and evidence-based research.
“The program deepened my belief that wellness is not peripheral to education—it’s foundational. I now approach counseling through a systems lens, recognizing how organizational culture, leadership, and training all influence individual well-being," Panaro said. "The program taught me to examine educational systems through a wellness lens—recognizing that well rounded student success begins with the well-being of the adults who serve them."
When offering advice to future students, she encouraged them to approach their careers with intention and to “stay curious, reflective, and compassionate—with others and with yourself.” She also urged students to seek out mentors who challenge them to think critically and to invest in their own well-being. "Lastly, remember that impact is not only made through direct counseling but also through the systems you help shape and the wellness you model every day."
