Lynn B. Mahaffie is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation (PPI) in the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). She is responsible for policy development (including regulatory activities) relating to the Federal student aid programs which award more than $160 billion to more than 25 million students each year. Lynn is also responsible for regulatory activities affecting grant programs administered by OPE.

Over the past twenty-one years, Lynn has served in various leadership roles in OPE, including Acting Assistant Secretary where she spearheaded several major regulatory initiatives and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs where she administered almost $3 billion of grant funds. She has a dozen years of experience managing grant programs including the GEAR UP program, the College Access Challenge Grant program, and graduate fellowship programs.

Prior to joining the Department of Education, Lynn practiced law in the District of Columbia. She holds degrees from George Washington University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

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