Lynn Rosenthal is the HHS Director of Sexual and Gender-based Violence at the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services where she leads the Department’s work to
implement the National Plan to End Gender-based Violence and related initiatives. In 2021,
Lynn was appointed by Secretary Austin to chair then Independent Review Commission on
Sexual Assault in the Military. Lynn also served for three years as President of the Center for
Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus Ohio, a multi-service
organization providing child advocacy, maternal health care, and domestic violence services.
From 2017-2018, Lynn was the Biden Foundation’s Director of Violence Against Women
Initiatives. From 2009 to 2015, Lynn was the first-ever White House Advisor on Violence Against
Women and a senior advisor to then-Vice President Biden. She co-chaired the White House
Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault on behalf of Vice President Biden and
represented the Vice President on the White House Council on Women and Girls. Lynn has also
been the executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence and state
domestic violence coalitions in New Mexico and Florida. Her early work was in abortion rights
as an organizer, activist, and health care provider. Lynn is a social worker by training and an
advocate by passion.