Dawn A. Lott, incoming President, is an accomplished attorney and community leader. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and her Juris Doctorate from Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School. Ms. Lott has specialized in matrimonial, employment and labor, and corporate/ commercial litigation throughout her legal career. She served as Of-Counsel to Bart & Schwartz, LLP, and later joined the law firm of Dandeneau & Curto, LLP. In 2005, she co-founded the law partnership, Dandeneau & Lott.
Currently, Ms. Lott is the Executive Director of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission. Under her leadership, the Commission has remained a vital force in promoting and enforcing the human rights of more than 1.5 million Suffolk County residents. In addition, she has drafted and implemented legislation, strengthening the County’s human rights laws, including the RISE Act, which prohibits employers from inquiring into a candidate’s salary history, the “ban the box” law, which eliminates a criminal history checkbox from appearing on job applications and other laws prohibiting preventing discrimination based on physical attributes, such as protective hairstyles.
Her work in the legal profession and community has earned her numerous awards and honors, including Outstanding Woman in Law by Hofstra Law, NAACP Islip Legacy Award, Extraordinary Public Servant by Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone, and most recently, Outstanding Change Maker by Empact Inc.
Ms. Lott has a history of active participation in the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) and the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association (SCWBA). As a member of the SCWBA, she served as past President, Director, Corresponding Secretary, Vice President of Programs and Membership, Alternate Delegate, Awards Committee Chair and Judicial Screening Committee representative before serving as WBASNY Corresponding Secretary, Vice-President and President-Elect.
Ms. Lott serves as Vice-President of Development for the National Women’s Political Caucus and Vice-President of NWPC, New York Caucus. In addition, Ms. Lott is a Past President and current member of the Amistad Black Long Island Bar Association, 1st Vice-Chair of the Girls Scouts of Suffolk County, Associate Mother of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Long Island Chapter, member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Rho Omega Zeta Chapter and former Jr. Mentor for the Moxxie Mentoring Foundation.
In her spare time, Ms. Lott enjoys staying active through hiking and yoga, and spending time with beloved family and cherished friends.