Janet Rosenzweig was confirmed by an 11-1 vote.
She is the former executive director of Prevent Child Abuse in New Jersey, a nonprofit advocacy group. She ran the group from 2001 to 2007.
But senators seemed far more interested in her work as acting executive director of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, or SSSS, a group several senators suggested has liberal views of child sexuality.
"I am unequivocally opposed to sexual encounters between adults and children," Rosenzweig said. "I have spent my career working to ensure that doesn't happen."
Sen. Gerald Cardinale, R-Cresskill, also asked her about certification as a sex educator by American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists and whether she supports letting those in "open marriages" or transgender people becoming foster parents.
She said she would "uphold the laws as they are written" concerning foster parents.
Rosenzweig was listed as the acting executive director for the SSSS, but said she only performed administrative and business functions and did not make policy decisions.
Rosenzweig is a visiting professor at Montclair State University's Center for Child Advocacy, where she teaches graduate courses on child advocacy, and is a former director of the Mercer County Department of Human Services.
She has a doctorate in social work from Rutgers University and a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Also Monday, Gary Lanigan was approved to run the Department of Corrections. Lanigan is budget director for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He previously served as a deputy commissioner in the New York City Department of Corrections.
Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez was also approved for reappointment to that post - one of three holdovers from former Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's administration.
Their nominations now go to the full Senate for a vote. Cabinet members make $141,000 a year.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
