Lynn Dines ’78

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Lynn Dines has always been the type to dive head first into a situation with a positive attitude. She and her family lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since Dines was 10 years old. She knew it would be good for her to go away to college so she could learn and explore. She applied and was accepted to UCLA having never set foot on the campus until the first day of New Student Orientation. Initially, Los Angeles was not an appealing place to live, but after her first two years, she couldn’t imagine herself anywhere else.

Dines worked for the same company for her entire career with multiple job transitions and several relocations. Her last move back to Los Angeles gave her the opportunity to reconnect with her California roots - family, friends and philanthropy.

For many of us after graduation, life gets busy with work obligations, family get-togethers, bills, pets and a whole slew of other things. Getting the opportunity to reconnect with UCLA isn’t always easy or convenient. When the chance came for Dines to recruit at UCLA on behalf of the pharmaceutical company she was working for, that was her gateway back to the campus.

She reached out to UCLA Alumni Affairs thinking that would be a great place to start with recruiting. In the process, she was introduced to volunteer opportunities with UCLA alumni and began to work on establishing a program now known as Interview With a Bruin. She’s been on the UCLA Alumni Association Board, chaired the Alumni Academy and most recently was president of Gold Shield Alumnae of UCLA.

After retiring from her job and the passing of both of her parents, Dines looked for her next opportunity “to still be stimulated and productive.” So she joined the Peace Corps at age 51 for a two-year, life-defining experience in Morocco. For Lynn, this was a “huge adventure with a great opportunity to learn from an incredibly rich and beautiful culture.”

With its many highs and lows of volunteering, the Peace Corps was one of the most impactful experiences in Dines’ life. She also learned a lot about herself and hopes that more Bruins consider the Peace Corps in their retirement.

In addition to volunteering with Gold Shield Alumnae of UCLA, Dines also dedicates her time and expertise to Heifer International, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and Executive Service Corps (ESC). Each of these organizations aligns with her values of integrity, respect for the individual and building sustainability. For Dines, it’s not about making the global impacts; it’s about helping the individual learn the skills they need to ensure a better life.

Although she says she’s “not a terribly adventurous person,” Dines has bicycled in Bhutan, trekked with gorillas in Uganda, hiked the Inka Trail and scuba dived in Fiji. She and her husband also enjoy live music and outdoor concerts. You might catch them at this year’s Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. Whether she’s trekking through a new country, volunteering to help a small business or helping Gold Shield fundraise for their scholarship, Lynn Dines always maintains a positive outlook, ensuring that she “lives life with no regrets.”