Osgoode Hall Law School’s chief law librarian has been honoured as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Toronto-based Women’s Executive Network. Chief Law Librarian Yemisi Dina was recognized for her leadership within her field.
It is the second such honour for Osgoode faculty and staff in recent years. In 2018, Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Mary Condon was also honoured by the organization in the public sector category.
“I was surprised but thrilled and happy to be recognized for my accomplishments in my career,” said Dina, who joined Osgoode’s law library in 2006.
“The award is very important and significant as it gives me a reflection of my professional journey, which has taken me through different experiences, people and knowledge,” she added. “The recognition gives me great confidence to continue to work hard, motivate, lead and inspire the future generation.”
Dina also serves as vice-president one for the Toronto-based Canadian Association of Law Libraries. She is also an active teacher, researcher and volunteer and a longtime member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Earlier this year, she was awarded the Daniel L. Wade Outstanding Service Award by members of the AALL’s Foreign, Comparative and International Law Special Interest Section (FCIL-SIS).
Dina holds an honours bachelor of arts degree in English, a master’s degree in language arts and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. She earned an honours LLB from the University of Lagos in Nigeria in 1990 and later achieved a master’s degree in public policy administration and law from York University. She has held a variety of positions at public and academic libraries in Canada, Nigeria and The Bahamas.
Her areas of specialization include law librarianship, information technology and its application to information services, legal research methods, women’s studies, and foreign, comparative and international law. She teaches library research in the first-year Legal Process course at Osgoode and in a number of upper-year and graduate courses.
The Women’s Executive Network, also known as WXN, is a national organization dedicated to propelling and celebrating the advancement of women of all ages, at all levels and in all sectors.
Recipients of WXN’s Top 100 honour for 2022 will be celebrated at an awards gala on Thursday, Nov. 17 at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York hotel.
In a description of its Top 100 program, the Women’s Executive Network notes that the recipients are recognized for their leadership in their industries or communities, for their accomplishments as rising stars, or their work as advocates and champions for others.
“They’re an inspiration to others,” it explains. “They’re trailblazers and ground breakers for future generations.
“This is what makes Canada’s Most Powerful Women truly powerful – not their standing or job title,” it adds. “Since 2003, we have celebrated their incredible actions and accomplishments at our Top 100 Awards.”