Courtney Parker
Courtney Parker works diligently to provide clients with information and respond to their questions regarding funding opportunities and policy updates in areas related to the environment, energy, and higher education. As a previous intern for an emergency service-based organization, a federal agency’s technology office, and a university federal relations office, Courtney has a passion for research, education, and addressing resilience challenges. Courtney covers agencies such as the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency.
Issue Expertise: Environment, Energy, Resilience, Climate and Clean Energy, Higher Education
Additional Experience: Courtney gained a genuine interest in advocacy and policy in 2019 when she interned with the International Association of Fire Chiefs in the government relations department where she was a lobbying assistant on Capitol Hill with other colleagues, representing the fire and emergency services including over 12,000 members across the nation about current needs within the fire and emergency service. In the summer of 2020, Courtney interned with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Technology and Information Management, where she provided support on the execution of the FY 2020 budget. Recently, Courtney interned with Virginia Commonwealth University in their Government Relations Department where she developed a passion for advocating on behalf of institutions of higher learning.
Vital Statistics: Courtney grew up in Prince William County, Virginia where she was active in her community. Being involved in helping the community at such an early age stemmed from her passion for wanting to advance society through public policy. As a direct result of her community engagement, Courtney received her B.A. in Political Science from Hampton University. While attending her beloved Alma Mater, she was initiated into the Gamma Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, a community-oriented organization that prides itself on scholarship and service. When Courtney is not with her fellow sorority members, she is spending quality time with her family and friends or traveling!
Allison Reed
Allison supports Lewis-Burke by using her background and education in public policy to provide clients with insights related to emerging technology and education policy, including funding opportunities, policy trends, agency updates, and congressional activities. This includes agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Education, and others of relevance. Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Allison gained experience interning for organizations focused on undergraduate education and media that furthered her knowledge of technology and education policy.
Issue areas: Future Technology, education, social sciences, and communities
Vital Statistics: Allison graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with her B.A. in Public Policy with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation. Allison studied abroad in Rome, Italy in the Spring of 2022, where she completed projects on humanitarian response. She is originally from Rochester, NY and in her free time enjoys traveling and exploring DC.
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.
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!