Katie Berger is the strategy director for federal policy at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all.
Prior to joining Lumina, she was the director of education for the White House Domestic Policy Council. In that role, she oversaw President Biden’s higher education agenda across the federal government. She worked closely with the U.S. Department of Education on the administration’s priorities, including the final rules on income-driven student loan repayment and on Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Berger has also served as a senior policy advisor for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions under Sen. Patty Murray (D.-Wash.), and as the senior education policy advisor for the House Committee on Education and Labor under Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.). While on Capitol Hill, Berger drafted and negotiated major pieces of legislation, including the FAFSA Simplification Act, the restoration of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students, and the $40 billion American Rescue Plan COVID-relief package for higher education.
Prior to working in the federal government, Berger served in advocacy and government relations roles with the Education Trust, the University of Texas System’s Office of Federal Relations, and the National Association for College Admissions Counseling.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin.
