Ona Alston Dosunmu is the executive director of the California Lawyers Association (CLA). A recognized leader in the legal profession, Ona joined CLA with deep expertise in non-profit governance and operations. Her legal experience includes stints in both private law firms and in-house. Most recently, Ona held a number of positions at the Brookings Institution, where she was vice president and general counsel and served as interim COO. As executive director of CLA, she is focused on supporting the sections, serving members, and fulfilling CLA’s mission by building the organization’s financial, technical and human capacity. Ona is particularly passionate about creating an organizational culture of trust, transparency, positivity and respect. In addition to the “basics” of running the organization, she is excited to build a new brand and to build relationships and partnerships with external stakeholders and constituencies.
Ona earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master‘s degree in sociology from Howard University. She has served on numerous legal and nonprofit boards, including the Children’s Law Center and the Corporate Pro Bono advisory board as well as two terms on the global governing board of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). She also chaired ACC’s board-level Advocacy Committee and was elected Chair of ACC’s national Nonprofit Organizations Committee.
Ona is a wife and the proud mom of twins: son, Taiwo and daughter, Kehinde. When she is not in the office or traveling for work, she enjoys biking, reading and swimming.
Leaders of the California Lawyers Association discuss the organization’s growth over the past year and goals for the future.
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