by Caroline Dobuzinskis

Dr. Esmeralda Lyn, previously Vice-Chair of IWPR’s board of directors, was recently elected to serve as Chair. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight Lyn’s professional accomplishments, as well as offer a glimpse at Lyn’s busy life outside of work.

Lyn retired this year from Hofstra University as the C.V. Staff Distinguished Professor of Finance and International Financial Services and is now Professor Emerita. Previously, Dr. Lyn served as finance officer at the United Nations in New York City and also has experience at Integrated Resources and Smith Barney Shearson. Her areas of specialization include mergers and acquisitions, international finance, corporate governance, and gender issues in finance. She counts being recognized as a C.V. Staff Distinguished Professor as one of her proudest accomplishments. “It was a recognition of my contribution in the field of finance, both in research and in teaching,” she said.

A colleague at Hofstra University first introduced Lyn to IWPR’s work and she was immediately intrigued. “Being an academic and researcher in finance, I was so impressed with the rigorous scientific research IWPR was doing, especially on the status of women in the states,” said Lyn. “In my mind then, and I still believe it strongly, the most effective way of influencing policymakers and different stakeholders regarding women’s issues is through high quality research.”

Among those closest to her, Lyn is known as a compassionate person who always has many projects on the go—as well as being a culinary expert. “I think family and close friends know me as a person who gets things done, and is a problem-solver,” said Lyn. “I also think they believe that I am a high-energy person because nothing stops me from pursuing a lot of things I enjoy outside work, such as any culinary-related activity, my book club, and more importantly, my volunteer work.”

The new role for Lyn comes as IWPR enters its 25th year.  In keeping with her character, Lyn’s vision for the next quarter-century of IWPR is very ambitious: “I hope that we will be able to solve all gender issues in the next 25 years and that there won’t be any more need for organizations such as IWPR,” she said. “That is of course wishful thinking! My dream is for IWPR to continue making a difference in the lives of women and their families.  I hope that IWPR is the first organization people think about when talking of gender issues and are willing to support it financially and otherwise.”

Caroline Dobuzinskis is the Communications Manager with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

To view more of IWPR’s research, visit IWPR.org