She was born in Athens and graduated from the Arsakeion School in Psychiko. She acquired Bachelor’s degrees in Classical Philology and History and Archaeology at the University of Athens, after which she attended a pre-doctoral course at Maison de l’Orient in Lyon as a C.N.R.S. scholar. In 1988 she was awarded her PhD in Archaeology cum laude by the University of Athens, and received a scholarship from the British Archaeological School at Athens for a post-doctoral study on ancient Greek onomastics in Oxford. In 1989, she joined the Institute of Greek and Roman Antiquity (now Institute of Historical Research) of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, where she still serves as a Principal Researcher.

Her academic interests include ancient Greek epigraphy, history and topography, the study of landscape as a cultural good, the protection, promotion and management of cultural heritage, the theory and politics of Culture.

She is the author of monographs and numerous articles published in international scientific journals, conference proceedings and collective volumes. She has also co-edited five collective volumes.

Lina Mendoni is a member of several domestic and foreign academic organizations, societies and unions. She has also participated in several scientific committees in the context of European and international research programs.

She served as a Special Scientific Advisor to the Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Planning and Public Works from 1994 to 1997, and to the Hellenic Ministry for the Aegean from 1997 to 1999. From 1999 to 2004 Lina Mendoni was Secretary General of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and from 2009 to 2015 of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, Culture and Sports, and Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sports successively. From 2019 to 2023, she was Minister of Culture and Sports. Since June 2023, she serves as Minister of Culture.

She has received numerous medals and awards both in Greece and abroad.

She is married and has one son.