Mary Beth Hastings is the deputy director of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, which works to ensure that U.S. international policies and programs promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls worldwide.  She has eighteen years international professional and academic experience, primarily working on behalf of the rights and wellbeing of women globally.  From 1999 to 2004, she directed the gender and equality program for Partners of the Americas, where she developed and oversaw a portfolio of projects on reproductive health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, women's legal rights and gender integration. Prior to that, she managed international outreach and training programs for the League of Women Voters Education Fund.  Ms. Hastings holds a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University.

A firm believer in the continuum of sexual and reproductive rights, Ms. Hastings also serves locally on the volunteer board of Birth Options Alliance of the Capital Area, which urges policymakers and insurance companies to support the rights and choices of pregnant women.