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Carolyn Mullen

Carolyn-Mullen.jpgCarolyn Mullen joined the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in 2017 with 15 years of experience as a government relations professional. As senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, she leads the federal government relations, communications, public relations, and state health policy teams. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, Mullen oversaw public relations strategies that resulted in placement in 70,000 news publications, 125 billion media impressions, and over $150 billion in emergency secured supplemental funding for public health. Under Mullens’ leadership, the government affairs and public relations team won several awards, including the Power of A Silver award for advocacy by the Center for Association Leadership and the Silver Addy Award by the American Advertising Federation. 

Mullen began her career as a healthcare policy legislative aide to former United States Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), where she received the Alert Family Partnership “Outstanding Service Award.” Following her tenure on Capitol Hill, Mullen worked to advance appropriations, public health, research, and other advocacy policy priorities at non-profit organizations, including the March of Dimes, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, and American Association for Dental Research. In 2010, the March of Dimes was awarded with the Research!America Paul G Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award as a result of her work. 

Mullen is an established spokesperson and thought leader, having appeared in global media outlets including the Associated Press, The Washington Post, USA Today, Politico, Kaiser Health News, and NPR Atlanta. She has guest-lectured at Georgetown University and the University of North Carolina, and is frequently asked to speak before Congress, state and territorial health leaders, and top public health advocates.  

Mullen has served in several leadership capacities, including as the Coalition for Health Funding board president from 2020-2022, an elected member of the Friends of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities executive committee, and a member of the National Birth Defects Prevention Network annual conference planning committee. In 2019, she was included in the de Beaumont Foundation’s inaugural “40 Under 40 in Public Health” list, which recognizes leaders whose creativity and innovation are strengthening communities across the country. She is a graduate of Villanova University.