Brooke Wallenstein

Brooke Wallenstein supports Lewis-Burke clients by providing strategic insights and analysis on issues related to higher education, health, and research policy. Drawing on experience in both the public and private sectors, she helps clients navigate the federal policy landscape through legislative and policy analysis, congressional monitoring, agency engagement, and strategic communications. Her portfolio focuses on health, biomedical research, science, and higher education policy. Brooke primarily covers the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), the Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation (NSF), particularly the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU).

Issue Expertise: Higher Education and Health

Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Brooke interned for Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, where she supported the communications team through media monitoring, daily press briefings, and communications operations. This experience provided her with a strong understanding of congressional communications strategies, media relations, and the day-to-day operations of a Senate leadership office.

Brooke also interned in the district office of Representative Jim McGovern, where she gained firsthand insight into how federal policies and legislation affect local communities. Through this role, she worked with constituents, grassroots organizations, and state and local stakeholders, strengthening her understanding of the connection between federal policymaking and community impact.

Vital Statistics: Brooke grew up in Rye Brook, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During her time at UMass Amherst, she participated in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) in DC Program, a partnership with The Washington Center. Through this program, she studied and interned in Washington, D.C., where she gained hands-on experience working for Lobbyit, a government relations and lobbying firm.

Outside of the office, Brooke enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and traveling.