Dina Austin

I attribute my success to maintaining integrity and professionalism in everything I do, always being proud of my work product and doing the best I can. I believe strongly in continuous learning - I don't think education stops when you finish college. When I first started in my department, I volunteered for every training opportunity and joined associations within the department because I wanted to learn and contribute. I've always encouraged myself and others to create opportunities by applying for different positions and taking advantage of internal trainings. Learning is a life-learning process, not something that ends with school. I also think it's crucial to be in a job that you really like, because if you don't like your job, you're not going to be as good as you can be. Throughout my career, I've challenged myself to do things I never thought I could do - like going to law school when I didn't think I was smart enough, or graduating from the police academy at age 42 when I wasn't sure I could handle it. I've learned to reach out, find places where I can learn and contribute, and see challenges as opportunities for growth. That mindset has not only helped me get promoted but has added so much to my life.

The best career advice I received came through a mentoring program my department offered about 20 years ago. I signed up for the first cohort and was paired with a woman who worked in HR for a six-month program where we met once a week. They gave us assignments and monitored our progress, and it was incredibly important for me. I really valued it because I not only learned about the HR process, how to create opportunities, and the education opportunities within the department, but it enhanced my confidence for applying for other jobs, doing other things, and sharing that information with other people too. That mentoring experience was one of the best things I've ever done in my career. Beyond that formal program, I had a friend who kept encouraging me to go to law school when I didn't think I was smart enough. He kept telling me 'you should go, you're good,' and his encouragement gave me the push I needed to take the LSAT and commit to four years of night school. Sometimes the best advice comes from people who believe in you before you believe in yourself.

My advice to young women entering this field is to be in a job that you really like, because if you don't like your job, you're not going to be as good as you can be. Always be professional and have integrity in your work. You need to be proud of your work product and do the best that you can. I encourage people to apply for other positions so they can create opportunities for themselves, and to keep learning and educating themselves. Sometimes people think that once they finish college, that's it, but there's so much more. Take advantage of internal trainings my department has a lot of trainings, and when I first started, that was one of the first things I did. I volunteered for every training and every association in the department. I would reach out and find places where I could learn and where I could contribute, because that's the only way, or one of the best ways, to not only get promoted, but it adds to your life. Learning is a life-learning process, not just something that ends when you finish school. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself and do things you never thought you could do.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is responding effectively to increasing emergencies while ensuring that individuals have timely access to the critical resources they need during times of crisis. At the same time, these challenges present meaningful opportunities to strengthen systems, enhance coordination, and build more resilient community support networks. I view this as a chance to make a lasting and positive impact on people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments. My career reflects a long-standing commitment to public service and helping others, supported by over three decades of experience across a range of roles that have allowed me to serve my community in a meaningful way. My journey has also been shaped by resilience and dedication, including the achievement of completing law school while working full-time and graduating from the police academy later in life, both of which underscore my commitment to continuous growth and service. In addition to my professional responsibilities, I remain actively engaged in my community through volunteer work and creative pursuits, striving to maintain a well-rounded life centered on contribution, connection, and impact.

The values most important to me are integrity, professionalism, and continuous learning. In my work, I believe in being proud of what I produce and always doing the best I can. I value helping others and seeing people move forward to become self-sufficient - when I see clients relying on themselves instead of government services, it gives me a lot of pride and joy. I'm committed to service, whether that's responding to emergencies at any hour as part of my on-call duties or volunteering with the San Francisco International Arts Festival for the past 15 years. Outside of work, I'm passionate about dancing I do salsa and tango - and I value staying engaged with the arts community. I also believe in challenging myself and not being limited by self-doubt. When I didn't think I was smart enough for law school, I did it anyway. When I had to go to the police academy at age 42, I saw it as a challenge and completed it. I value growth, contribution, and finding places where I can learn and make a difference in people's lives.