Adrian Shanker (he/him) is a senior fellow at Lehigh University College of Health. A nationally-regarded policy expert in LGBTQI+ health policy, Adrian has worked at the nexus of LGBTQI+ policy and health policy at the federal, state, and municipal levels for 15+ years.
Adrian was a senior political appointee in the Biden administration, where he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy and Senior Advisor on LGBTQI+ Health Equity at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He oversaw policy for ten public health offices and led the LGBTQI+ policy portfolio across all divisions of HHS. Before that, he served on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. At the state level, Adrian served as Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission at the appointment of Gov. Tom Wolf and unanimous confirmation by the state senate. He also served as Commissioner and Health Committee co-chair on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQI+ Affairs.
After the Biden administration, Adrian launched Shanker Strategies, a boutique consulting practice offering non-profit management, LGBTQI+ health, and policy / advocacy consulting for the LGBTQI+ and HIV movements nationally. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for CenterLink: the community of LGBTQ Centers, the National Campaign Board for the LGBTQ Victory Institute, and on the advisory board for NPS Pharmacy.
A seasoned non-profit leader, he served as founding executive director of Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, which he developed from its infancy to a $1.6M agency with 24 FTEs, a 13,000 SF mortgage-free facility, and robust health, youth, and arts programs. He created and broadly implemented the biannual Pennsylvania LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment in 2015, ’18, ’20, and ’22. He also served as executive director of a $2.9M HIV service agency in California that provided HIV case management, PrEP navigation, and harm reduction services.
Adrian earned a Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Policy & Practice from The George Washington University and a B.A., cum laude, in Political Science and Religion Studies from Muhlenberg College.
Adrian has received numerous awards for his leadership and advocacy impact, including:
- Out in National Security Out Leaders List
- GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality Achievement Award
- Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Legacy Award
- City and State PA inaugural Pennsylvania Healthcare Power 100 list
- Lehigh Valley Business Healthcare Hero Award
- Philadelphia Gay News ‘Person of the Year’ 2012 and 2018
- Human Relations Commission of the City of Allentown Human Relations Award
Adrian has edited two anthologies, Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health and Crisis and Care: Queer Activist Responses to a Global Pandemic and authored chapters in three additional books.
Image description: professional headshot of Adrian, a white man wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt, and orange tie. He is wearing an intersex-inclusive pride flag pin and standing in front of a grey background. (photo credit: DeMarcus Bolds)