Lynne P. Brown was appointed Senior Vice President for University Relations and Public Affairs in June 2003.

Brown has responsibility for the University offices related to communications, government relations, community relations, special events, and community service. These offices include: Federal Policy, Government and Community Relations, Community Service, America Reads/America Counts, University Events, Writing and Research, Advertising and Publications, Marketing Services and Electronic Publications, Media Production, and Public Affairs. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at NYU, teaching a graduate seminar on the politics of higher education.

Prior to assuming this post, she had been in charge of the University's government and community relations office. Before coming to NYU, Brown worked on Capitol Hill for then-Congressman (and later NYU President from 1981 to 1991) John Brademas (D-IN), and for then-Congressman Thomas S. Foley (D-WA), respectively, during their tenures as Majority Whips, the third-ranking leadership post in the House of Representatives. She is the author of numerous articles and papers on American politics.

She serves on a number of governing boards, as well as the Board of Trustees of Manhattan College (Riverdale, New York).

Brown received her B.A. from Smith College, where she was elected phi beta kappa; she received her Ph.D. in political science from The Johns Hopkins University.