2024 PINNACLE Society Honoree Lori Lee Dickson, BA'82

Lori Lee is an attorney with over 30 years of experience advising local governments and public-serving entities in diverse areas of operation, governance, and service to the public.  

A 1982 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson, Lori Lee has been an extraordinary contributor to her alma mater, first volunteering to serve on a reunion committee and then being elected to the Alumni Association Board of Governors in 1994, a role that has continued for 30 years. She credits former classmate Donna Marki – now a University trustee – with getting her involved at her alma mater, work that she sees no end to as her love of FDU has only grown through her volunteerism and philanthropic support.

As an extremely dedicated alumnus, in addition to her current Emeritus membership on the Board of Governors, Lori Lee’s connections to FDU are deep and varied. She attends numerous University-related events, commuting from her home in New York. She is a current member of the Pre-Law Advisory Board, a Past President of the Alumni Association and a former University Trustee. She is first to raise her hand to support efforts to increase alumni and student engagement. In the past, her involvement included Alumni-in-Admissions, FDU Women and Sands of Time.     

Lori Lee is an attorney at McCarthy Fingar LLP in White Plains, New York with over 30 years of experience advising local governments and public-serving entities in diverse areas of operation, governance, and public service.  As a leader in her chosen field of municipal law, Lori Lee provides counsel to   the firm’s clients on a myriad of topics important to municipal corporations and their public stakeholders. She also serves as General Counsel to the Westchester Joint Water Works, a non-profit public benefit corporation operating a combined municipal water system serving 100,000 residents. 

Lori Lee’s litigation experience includes providing defense on behalf of her municipal clients at the trial court and appellate levels, on matters including local land use decisions and NY State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) compliance. Before joining the firm, Lori Lee served in-house as Corporation Counsel for the Village of Ossining (2011-2016). Prior to completing her law degree, Lori Lee was an educator teaching English and reading in the NJ public school system. 

At FDU, Lori Lee earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude, in secondary education and completed the requirements for a second major in English Language and Literature and a minor in Theatre Arts. She later earned a Juris Doctor degree at St. John’s University School of Law and passed the bar exams in both New York and New Jersey.