Amitai Cammy
Amitai Cammy utilizes his background in humanities and social science to monitor and assess issues related to international affairs, education, immigration, and the current landscape of social science research. Amitai tracks emerging priorities and opportunities within the Department of Education (ED), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State (DOS), the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities (NEA/NEH), and international research partnerships sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Issue Expertise: Immigration, homeland security, higher education, international research collaborations, humanities and social sciences
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Amitai interned for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in her Capitol Hill Office, where he assisted staff on a variety of issues including defense, education, and emergency preparedness. He additionally interned for the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, where he helped visiting scholars with research and assisted with Kluge Center events. His interest in U.S. foreign policy led him to intern for a non-profit in the Middle East, along with a fellowship at Israel Policy Forum in his final year of university.
Vital Statistics: Amitai is from Western Massachusetts and graduated with distinction from Cornell University with a B.A. in history and Near Eastern Studies. In the summer after his third year, he was a recipient of the Sandy Berger Summer Experience Grant, awarded to students working in public service. He was also recognized as a Merrill Presidential Scholar, honoring students who demonstrated academic excellence and community leadership. In his free time, Amitai enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, exploring monuments and museum exhibits around the DMV, and improving his golf swing.
Matthew Kopfer, MPS
Matthew Kopfer supports clients at Lewis-Burke Associates by tracking legislative developments and identifying funding opportunities across a broad range of issue areas, including global affairs, homeland security, energy, emergency management, and the arts and humanities. He delivers analysis and insights on programs and policy initiatives within the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Energy (DOE), and the rapidly evolving emerging technologies space, including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Issue Expertise: International Collaborations and Partnerships, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Emergency Management, Social Science and the Humanities, Energy
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Matthew interned with Senator Mark Warner (VA) in his Washington, DC office, where he gained an understanding of education and national security policy and helped constituents navigate federal agencies.
Vital Statistics: A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Matthew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of Virginia in 2022. He later received a Master of Professional Studies in Project Management from Georgetown University in 2025. Outside of his professional work, Matthew enjoys traveling and exploring new hobbies.
Isabella Izquierdo, MPH
Isabella supports Lewis-Burke clients by advancing priorities in biomedical and public health research through advocacy and consulting across agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). At the firm, she focuses on agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), among others. Isabella’s background in neuroscience and public health fuels her advocacy for the basic, translational, and implementation research that drives evidence-based public health interventions. Isabella is particularly passionate about the role policy plays in bridging the intersection of experimental research and its direct impacts on public health.
Issue Areas: Biomedical research, social determinants of health, chronic disease, public health, and behavioral sciences.
Additional Information: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Isabella interned with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) where she spent a summer working on an NIH-funded R01 study focused on maternal health and substance use. It was here that she found her passion for public health policy. During her time abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, Isabella joined a public health program where she frequently met with different non-profits, research facilities, and social services working to solve issues such as, but not limited to, homelessness, substance use disorder, and mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Isabella worked with the Florida Department of Health as a Contact Tracer and in the latter half of her time there, as an Epidemiologist, offering testing, medical, and economic resources to those affected by COVID-19.
Most recently, Isabella became a Fellow of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative (BAHI) through her graduate studies where she focuses on issues pertaining to addiction and overdose. As a result, she has developed a comprehensive understanding of the federal drug policy landscape, which remains a personal interest.
Vital Statistics: Isabella was born and raised in Miami, Florida but received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at Pomona College in Claremont, California. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins University with plans to graduate in December 2025. When she's not studying, Isabella loves checking out new restaurants, traveling, and admiring the full four seasons that D.C has to offer.
Agency Support, NEH
After listening to a university client’s interest in building a new educational program for their undergraduate students at the intersection of humanities and STEM, Lewis-Burke experts identified and matched their goals to a potential federal funding opportunity at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Lewis-Burke shared background intelligence on the agency and the program as well as initiated the client’s meeting with relevant federal agency staff. Lewis-Burke’s support along with the engagement of federal program managers resulted in a successful NEH award for the project.
The university is on its way in developing a new humanities program in a burgeoning interest area of students.
Kari McCarron
Kari McCarron is a trusted and highly valued expert in higher education, bringing decades of experience within the federal higher education and scientific research enterprise, having lead education and science advocacy for associations, worked as a government relations representative for a major research university, and served within federal agencies. Kari focuses on funding for and advocacy of student and institutional aid, education research, cultural agencies, and tech-based economic development. She also works closely with clients on education regulations, tax policy, and immigration issues.
Kari previously served as Director of Congressional and Governmental Affairs with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and as Senior Legislative Assistant within the Office of the President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). For nearly two decades, she has actively participated in associations, coalitions, and working groups related to higher education, scientific research, innovation, and student financial aid.
Issue Expertise: Higher Education Act and related education regulations, science and tech policy, economic development, taxation, immigration, education research, and humanities and arts programs.
Additional Experience: Kari enhanced her knowledge of science policy serving at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Kari also served as an Economist with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Vital Statistics: Kari earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan. Wanting to combine her interest in economics and technological innovation, Kari received her Master of Science in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology. When not enjoying the quietness of her office or the halls of Congress, Kari can be found shuttling her three boys between soccer practices.
Jack Goodman-Cheng
Jack Goodman-Cheng assists Lewis-Burke clients in developing congressional and agency engagement strategies in the realm of health and biomedical research, health professions workforce, social and behavioral sciences, and arts and humanities. Jack’s expertise covers a broad range of agencies, including HRSA, SAMHSA, NIH, AHRQ, and CDC, and assists clients in navigating the complex and changing landscape of health policy and funding. Jack additionally assists with the firm’s education and emerging technology research portfolios.
Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Jack gained experience in the office of New York Representative Grace Meng, where he closely supported the legislative staff through policy analysis and research. Jack also held roles on political campaigns and in university student affairs offices.
Issue Areas: Healthcare delivery and services, health professions, social and behavioral science, arts and humanities, biomedical research, minority-serving institutions.
Vital Statistics: Born and raised in New York, Jack attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science through the School of Engineering and Applied Science, with a second major in Applied Economics and Business Strategy through the Olin School of Business. Outside of work, Jack can be found exploring the D.C. region on his bike or watching motorsports.