Lisa Monticciolo is the Dean of Students and Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
As the Dean of Students, Lisa works with faculty and other Law School administrative offices to orient students to law school life, and to provide resources and counseling on a variety of matters that may arise in both students’ academic and personal lives.
Her office promotes the well-being of students within the law school and the university communities and sets the strategic vision for how the OSA can most effectively support students in a demanding pre-professional program, starting with new student and transfer orientations and spanning through Commencement.
In her role as the Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Lisa has led the development of Hofstra Law School’s strategic plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion in collaboration with the DEI faculty, administration, and student, and alumni committees.
Prior to the Law School, Lisa served as the Director of Programs at Hofstra University’s Continuing Education division. In her capacity as Director, Lisa was responsible for the Legal Studies and Pre-Collegiate programs.
Prior to joining Hofstra University in 1999, Lisa was the Regional Director of Human Resources for Federated Department Stores, Inc. where she was responsible for employee relations and organizational development. Lisa also served as Legal Consultant to Compliance Reports, an organization that specializes in ADA compliance.
Lisa was an instructor in the Paralegal Studies program and Legal Nurse Consultant program as well as a certified trainer in Sexual Harassment and Diversity.
Lisa currently serves as the co-chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, is on the board of the Diversity and Inclusion University Committee and serves as an American Bar Association accreditation site evaluator.
Lisa received her B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College and her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law.
What are the most significant challenges you have as a woman in your industry?
When I first started in higher education 25 years ago being a woman was not as easy to navigate as it is now. I remember going in to request an increase in salary after being asked to take on more responsibility (and finding out how much one of my male colleagues made).
My supervisor told me that she could not give me an increase and that men need to make more than women as they are the breadwinners of the family. The problem was not only what she said, but that I did not feel empowered enough to do or say anything about it.
