Matthew Kopfer

Matthew Kopfer supports Lewis-Burke by providing research and up-to-date information on international and security, energy, and social sciences landscape and opportunities across the federal government.  Matthew specializes in extramural research and workforce programs at agencies including at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Department of State (DOS), Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).   Having studied politics and foreign affairs as an undergraduate and gained experience in the higher education sphere, Matthew brings a unique and passionate viewpoint to Lewis-Burke’s clients.

Issue Areas: Workforce development, international research collaborations, higher education, homeland security, emerging technologies, and social sciences.  

Additional Information:  Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Matthew interned for U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), researching, and assisting staff in tracking and analyzing clean energy, economic development, foreign affairs, and national security developments and events.  Through this experience, he gained a thorough understanding of the many different priorities of federal agencies and became skilled at researching and analyzing federal policy.  Additionally, Matthew gained valuable business and administrative insight in Senator Warner’s office, giving him useful skills to interact with clients. 

Vital Statistics: Matthew was born and raised in Williamsburg, Virginia and received his Bachelor’s degree a year early with distinction from the University of Virginia, where he majored in Foreign Affairs and Politics.  For his third year of college, Matthew studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and the University of Virginia: Valencia in Spain.  Matthew is a Master’s in Project Management candidate at Georgetown University, interested in leveraging new mechanisms and emerging technologies to maximize organizational structure and output.  Outside of the office, Matthew spends his time supporting University of Virginia athletics, especially during basketball season.  He also enjoys listening to music, reading political theory journals, and running. Matthew is an avid enjoyer of researching and analyzing realist and neorealist theory, UK and EU politics, and development in Africa and Latin America.