Dr. Dianne Piper, Esq.

Chief Diversity & Inclusion Strategist

Biography

As Chief Diversity and Inclusion Advisor for Abstone Lalley DeNio, Inc., Dr. Piper manages an impressive portfolio of national and international entities that retain her expertise and counsel to achieve diversity and inclusion, assure legal compliance, and respond to issues related to gender, civil, and human rights, social justice, and equality. A devoted and passionate advocate for access and opportunity for marginalized people, Dr. Piper has significant experience as an attorney, lecturer, and change driver whose expertise in human capital, civil rights, neuro-diversity, intersectionality, and religious and transgender accommodations is highly sought around the globe. With more than 22 years of experience contributing to national conversations on inclusion and belonging, Dr. Piper’s expertise includes: building capacity and reputation, change management, policy formation, diversity accountability, and creating international partnerships.

Dr. Piper’s impressive consulting portfolio includes Am Law 100 and 200 law firms, Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, faith-based organizations, retailers, airlines, and large urban doctoral research universities across Europe, Canada, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Prior leadership roles include: Chief Diversity Officer, General Counsel, Managing Attorney, Chancellor, Labor Counsel, Director of Supplier Diversity, Director of Public Affairs, Executive Vice President, and Senior Partner.

A lifelong advocate and learner, Dr. Piper has more than 20 years of experience as a lecturer, visiting professor, and senior advisor to universities and colleges around the globe transforming curious scholars into culturally astute, agile, future leaders prepared to succeed in today’s global workforce.

Dr. Piper holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Theater and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from the University of the State of New York, Regents College in Albany, NY; a Masters of Arts in Mass Communications from Southern University, A & M College; a Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, LA; and the Doctor of Management in Policy and Administration from the University of Maryland, University College in Adelphi, MD.

Dr. Piper is affiliated with numerous local and national organizations and enjoys a number of fitness interests and hobbies that include flying kites around the world, live jazz, classic cars, collecting African artifacts, biking, and ballroom dancing.

Expertise
Neuro-Diversity; Implicit Bias Impacts; Minority Supplier Diversity; Gender Non-Conforming Vocabularies; LGBTQIA Ally Training; Intersectionality; Talent Management; Policy Design; Religious Accommodations; and Establishing policies and practices
Alma Mater
University of Maryland (Ph.D.), Southern University Law Center (JD), Southern University (MA), University of the State of New York, Regents College (BA & BS)
In her spare time
Flying kites around the world; collecting African artifacts; classic cars; live jazz; biking; ballroom dancing