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Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion Patricia Kinney, ’02, is part of a group of higher education professionals who successfully launched a new section in the Association of American Law Schools. The AALS Section on Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Professionals was granted provisional status in May 2022.

"This is a growing profession within law schools, and many of us are under-resourced and siloed, offices of one, but are given monumental tasks to change a culture," Dean Kinney said. "Some are up against those who are not ready for and do not want to move away from the status quo. We felt we needed a professional organization to help connect us, and give us an avenue to support each other in the work, and provide best practices. Recently I went to a conference for chief diversity officers and it was amazing how many were weeks into their positions, as opposed to years." 

Dean Kinney joined the administration at IU McKinney in 2004, becoming assistant dean in 2011. While a law student, she co-founded the Asian Law Student Association. In her role at the law school, she is responsible for building the department to serve the law school's mission of being "committed to accessibility, affordability, diversity, and excellence in public legal education." She provides strategic leadership on diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives.  Dean Kinney also serves as a liaison with internal and external constituencies on and off campus and continues to recruit students from populations underrepresented in the profession and provides support to enrolled students.