MLS is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Professor Dianne Otto, who will retire from the Law School at the end of 2016.
Professor Otto has been teaching human rights law subjects to LLB, JD and LLM students for over two decades. She has a distinguished record of published work, an international reputation in the field and was Director of the Institute for International Law and the Humanities (IILAH) from 2012-2015. She is currently director of the IILAH Feminist and Queer Approaches to International Law program.
In 2013 she was named the Francine V McNiff Chair in Human Rights Law. Appointed as the Law School’s first endowed Chair in human rights law, Professor Otto has worked to promote further understanding of human rights issues. This has included the creation of a masters program in international human rights law, in which she is serving as the Co-Director of Studies in 2016.
Before entering legal academia, Professor Otto worked in community development as an outreach worker assisting disadvantaged communities in Melbourne. These included homeless young people, domestic violence survivors and people with psychiatric disabilities.
Dean Carolyn Evans reflected on Professor Otto’s achievements and noted that she brought a unique perspective of someone deeply grounded in both the theory of human rights and the practical implications of human rights work.
She has made a significant contribution to teaching and research about human rights at the Law School.
“Her commitment to the most marginalised groups, her passion for her area of interest and her commitment to students and colleagues will be much missed.”
MLS would like to thank Professor Otto for her remarkable contribution to the Law School and we wish her all the best for the future.
Banner image: Professor Dianne Otto