ics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and global economy and development. In addition to conducting high-quality, independent research, its mission is to “provide innovative and practical recommenda- tions that advance three broad goals: strengthen American democracy; foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans; and secure a more open, safe, prosperous, and cooperative international system.” Dosunmu left private practice to


join Brookings in 2002 as associ- ate director of budget and admin- istration in the Foreign Policies Program. A longtime interest in the world beyond America’s bor- ders (Dosunmu’s husband is from Nigeria), the opportunity to interface with other countries, and public policy issues attracted her to the job.


Initially my position was slated to be a part-time job, which, in retrospect, is hilarious given all the work to be done. And that’s how I offi cially became Brookings’ fi rst GC in April 2006.” Prior to Brookings, Dosunmu


practiced at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP, which she considers her professional “fi nishing school.” During her time at the fi rms, Dosunmu acquired more than substantive legal experience. She also gained valuable lessons in manage- ment style. “As an organization,” she says, “Latham & Watkins did extraordinarily well. For instance, their evaluation system was very clear and transparent—that’s not the case with all organizations. Also, there was a relentless commitment to ensure that clients and attorneys have the same experience throughout the


For women and people of color ‘asking’ is a particularly important skill.


She also wanted to gain manage- ment experience. During her time as associate director, Dosunmu helped to double both the budget and size of the program to $14 million and 130 people, respectively. Despite her success with the


program, she missed the law. “I thought I might be happy working exclusively in management, but I was wrong. So, I let Brookings know that I was looking around and asked if they could point me toward something. It just so happens at that same time the organization was experiencing a tremendous growth trajectory and management thought they could use some in-house legal assistance.


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fi rm whether they were in the New York, London, Brussels, or Beijing offi ces. T at’s unusual for a fi rm. As Brookings grows, this is something I defi nitely refl ect on for us.” Dosunmu attended Howard


University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism followed by a master’s in sociology. She began her post- graduate career working for small activist non-profi ts, but at a point she began to feel vulnerable. “I was doing some fundraising and general offi ce work yet I felt that I had no real marketable skills, so I decided to go to law school.” She graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center.


A native Midwesterner, Dosunmu


grew up in southwestern Michigan. She was just fi ve when her father, a physician, died, leaving her mother, a teacher, to care for her and three younger siblings. Her parents’ strength and ability to transcend adversity have always served as an inspiration to her. For Dosunmu, the essence of her


father is captured in two images that she describes as teaching moments. T e fi rst is a photograph showing Dosunmu as toddler sitting in her father’s lap as he reads the paper. She appears to be reading right along with him, but of course she is too young to read. T e second is an indelible memory in which her father shaves while practicing simple Spanish phrases aloud. As he moves the razor across his lathered face, Dosunmu’s father asks young Ona to repeat what he says. “So much of my life has been


defi ned by the absence of my father,” says Donsunmu, the mother of teen- age twin girls. “But the memories I hold of him underline his unusual commitment to education despite having been born into urban poverty in Philadelphia. I feel that his passion for learning was passed on to me. I’m equally awed by my mother and her extended family—the children of impoverished sharecroppers in the South, who fanned out across the country and achieved success. From her, I learned a work ethic, and while admittedly mine pales in comparison to hers, it has served me well. “I’ve never been afraid to ask for


things. Somewhere along the way I was told that it’s OK to ask. T e worst thing that will happen is they’ll say no. I’ve known women and minorities who are afraid to ask for a raise or what they need or want. For women and people of color ‘asking’ is a par- ticularly important skill.” D&B


Patrick Folliard is a freelance writer based in Silver Spring, Md.


JULY/AUGUST 2011 DIVERSITY & THE BAR® 17


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