Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation delegated the duties of Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Edu
U.S. Department of Education
Washington
DC
Biographical Sketch: Lynn B. Mahaffie is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation in the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). She is responsible for policy development, including regulatory activities, relating to federal student aid programs, which award $150 billion to more than 25 million students each year. Mahaffie is also responsible for regulatory activities affecting grant programs administered by OPE.
Over the past 24 years, Lynn has served in various leadership roles in OPE, including as Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, in which role she spearheaded several major regulatory initiatives. During the most recent presidential transition, she served as acting Under Secretary for several months. Previously, as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs, she administered almost $3 billion of grant funds. Mahaffie has a dozen years of experience managing grant programs, such as the GEAR UP program, the College Access Challenge Grant Program, and graduate fellowship programs.
Prior to joining the Department of Education, Mahaffie practiced law in the District of Columbia. She holds degrees from the George Washington University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.