Katie Berger is the strategy director for federal policy for 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, Katie was the director of education for the White House Domestic Policy Council. In this role, she oversaw President Biden’s higher education agenda across the federal government and worked closely with the U.S. Department of Education on Administration priorities including the final rules on Income-Driven Repayment and Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency.
Katie has also served as a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions under Senator Patty Murray, and as the senior education policy advisor for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor under Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott. While on the Hill, Katie drafted and negotiated major pieces of legislation including the FAFSA Simplification Act to overhaul the financial aid application process and need analysis formula; 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, Katie served in advocacy and government relations roles with the Education Trust, the University of Texas System Office of Federal Relations, and the National Association for College Admissions Counseling.
