Press Release

Dianne Olsen Receives Attorney General's 2005 Civil Division Leadership Award

October 6, 2005

(Anchorage) - Attorney General David Márquez announced today that Dianne E. Olsen, Chief Assistant Attorney General and Supervisor of the Department of Law's Human Services Section, received the 2005 Civil Division Leadership Award.

"For 24 years Dianne has served with distinction in the Department of Law," said Márquez. "Her skill as an attorney, her experience in the department and the respect she earned among her peers made her a section supervisor. The intangible factors that make certain individuals stand out as exemplary managers made Dianne an admired leader and a perfect choice for this award."

Olsen began with the department on September 28, 1981 as the mental health attorney in the Human Services Section. She is a resident expert in human service's issues, children's issues and on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). On July 1, 2002 Olsen was named statewide supervising attorney for the Human Services Section, supervising 56 staff members in four, statewide offices.

According to Nancy Gordon, Acting Deputy Attorney General of the Civil Division, and a long-time associate and co-worker of Olsen, "Dianne is an inspiration to everyone that has worked with her in the Human Services section for two and a half decades. She mentors, mobilizes and motivates people to work hard and to do their best. She continues to work tirelessly on behalf of Alaska's children. Dianne truly deserves to be recognized for her exemplary leadership skills."

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.