Matthew Kopfer
Matthew Kopfer supports Lewis-Burke by providing research and up to date information on the education and international landscape and opportunities at the Department of Education, Department of State, US Agency for International Development, and research agencies. 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: education, workforce development, foreign relations, international development, international research collaborations, and social science
Additional Information: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Matthew expanded his education and foreign affairs knowledge interning for U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). In that role, he researched and assisted staff in tracking and analyzing education developments and events occurring around the world that pertain to the United States. Through this experience, he gained an 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/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. Outside of the office, Matthew spends his time supporting University of Virginia and Virginia athletics, especially during basketball season. He also enjoys listening to music, reading political theory journals, and running. Matthew is an advent enjoyer of researching and analyzing realist/neorealist theory, UK and EU politics, and development in Africa and Latin America.
Gavin Meyer
Gavin Meyer supports Lewis-Burke and its clients by providing research and tracking of congressional legislation and agency updates concerning emerging technologies, computing, education, and immigration. His insights primarily center on the work of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Education (ED). His unique background in education and immigration work informs his understanding of important political issues through a community-oriented lens.
Issue Areas: Future Technology, Education, Immigration, and Cybersecurity
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Gavin worked as a development intern for Civic Nation, focusing specifically on financial development research for college nonprofit initiatives. Gavin fostered a passion for immigration policy during the summer of 2021 as a legal assistant in the immigration department of CASA De Maryland, providing DACA renewal appointments, Spanish translation, and legal hotline services to clients affected. Gavin also brings experience working as a Public Relations team lead for TurnUp Activism, an organization dedicated to increasing youth voter registration and turnout, as well as work as a Campaigns & Elections intern with the National Education Association (NEA), developing an understanding of education policy as well as education advocacy in the political realm.
Vital Statistics: Gavin graduated from American University in May 2022 with a double major in Political Science & Spanish, and has been living, studying, and working in the Washington D.C. area since 2018. Gavin was born in Syracuse, New York, completed high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been an avid Bengals fan ever since. In his spare time, Gavin interacts with the community around him through his love of music, singing a cappella and playing piano frequently. He also enjoys doing long-distance running in and around Washington D.C. and is about to begin training for another marathon soon (he insists).
Oscar Carballo
Oscar Carballo, Associate, is a passionate advocate for education policy. Oscar helps clients advance their priorities through monitoring issues related to education, workforce development, veterans’ education/workforce, arts/humanities, immigration, and international issues and provide insight on potential congressional action and future federal funding opportunities. n particular, Oscar focuses on emerging opportunities in the Department of Education (ED), The National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities (NEA/NEH), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of State, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA).
Issue Areas: Education policy, workforce development, veterans’ education and workforce policy, international relations, and immigration.
Additional Experience: Before joining Lewis-Burke, Oscar started his career in Washington, DC in the office of Senator Jacky Rosen. He gained knowledge and formed a passion for education and immigration policy, in which he worked closely with senior staff on these issues. In addition to his time in the Senate, Oscar worked for Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), a humanitarian response non-profit, that supports and engages with the community to provide free, mobile COVID-19 testing to residents of the District of Columbia in underserved communities.
Vital Statistics: Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oscar earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he double majored in Political Science and International Relations. In his free time, you can find Oscar playing soccer across the District, hanging out with friends at the National Mall, and on his journey looking for the best Salvadoran food DC has to offer!