Dineen is a graduate of the State University at Albany with a double major in History and Anthropology.  She earned her J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University, Albany New York and was admitted to practice in 1978.

Her legal career was devoted to public service - former Deputy Director and General Counsel, New York State Division for Youth;  Associate Counsel, NYS Department of Correctional Services;  former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, NYS Department of Law. Dineen retired in March of 2000 and now has a small private practice with a concentration in tax. Most of her work is pro bono. She is a resident of East Greenbush, New York and was a close friend of Michelle Renee Knoll.

Dineen is also a co-incorporator of Child Focus, Inc. (for profit) and Child Focus Family Services, Inc. (not-for-profit).  Both corporations offer a Parent Education and Awareness Program (PEAP) to the general public for persons involved in divorce and custody actions.  In addition both corporations offer supervised visitation services and divorce mediation and agreement scribing.

Dineen has been an active member and officer/director of a number of not-for-profit organizations, including:  Zonta International, Zonta Club of Albany;  The Next Step, Inc. – a residential alcohol and substance abuse treatment residence for women, the first such residential treatment facility in upstate New York;  Cooperative Extension, Albany County, NY.