The University of South Carolina is proud to partner with Lewis-Burke Associates,
a leading full-service government relations firm that specializes in advocating for
the public policy interests of higher education research enterprises like ours. The
Office of the Vice President for Research is pleased to share news and resources from
Lewis-Burke Associates with researchers across USC’s system.
The University of South Carolina has retained the services of Lewis-Burke Associates, a leading full-service government relations firm that specializes in advocating
for the public policy interests of higher education research enterprises like ours.
Our new partners at Lewis-Burke Associates will help the university build and make
the most of relationships in Washington, D.C., providing the support our research
enterprise needs to reach the next level. The agency offers a variety of services
like helping to match faculty with federal funding opportunities, with a broad portfolio
ranging from STEM and health sciences to the liberal arts and humanities.
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Lewis-Burke will provide such services to the university as:
Strategies for current projects to succeed in a challenging and changing political
environment
Intelligence on new and emerging federal priorities from across agencies, including
in-depth analysis of new funding opportunities and reports from federal advisory committees
Facilitation of relationships with federal scientists and program officials
Support for early career faculty and professional development
Advice on research portfolio diversification
High-level surveys of federal funding trends to better understand agency priorities
and the political landscape, including webinars and
Analysis and guidance on new regulations and policies affecting research and higher
education
Eve Granatosky, Ph.D. is a Principal at Lewis-Burke and serves as the Team Lead for
USC. She specializes in advising clients on interdisciplinary priorities, especially
for those at the intersection of life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering.
Eve’s primary expertise is in biomedical research and the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), as well as other agencies focused on health and life science research. Her
issue expertise incudes biotechnology, biomanufacturing, graduate STEM education,
and environmental health. Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Eve worked as a science policy
fellow at the National Human Genome Research Institute and the American Society of
Human Genetics. She also served as a Legislative Fellow in the United States Senate.
Originally from Groton, CT, Eve earned her undergraduate degree at Stonehill College
and her doctorate degree in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame.
Bill Ruch
Bill Ruch is a Principal at Lewis-Burke and Chair of the Technology-Based Economic
Development Practice Group, which assists clients as they seek to commercialize research
from lab to market, forge public-private partnerships, and pursue regional economic
development strategies. Bill’s diverse portfolio also covers federal interests across
the research and development spectrum. He also serves as one of the firm’s top experts
in the social and behavioral sciences and domestic security spaces. Prior to working
at the federal level, Bill accrued valuable state and local government experience
at the Michigan House of Representatives. Bill attended Michigan State University,
where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in
Pre-Law.
Sierra C. Cato, J.D.
Sierra C. Cato, J.D. is a Principal at Lewis-Burke and member of the Energy Policy
Practice Group. As a trusted advisor and strategist, Sierra helps clients advance
legislative priorities in Congress, secure federal funding, navigate challenges in
the political landscape and raise their profile in Washington, DC. Prior to joining
the firm, Sierra served as the Acting Staff Secretary for Secretary of Energy Dan
Brouillette at the U.S. Department of Energy, Senior Advisor to the Director of Executive
Secretariat as well as the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. Sierra’s background
also includes serving in both the United States Senate as law clerk for Senator Thom
Tillis and the United States Committee on Science, Commerce, and Transportation under
Senator John Thune’s leadership. She served as a Staff Assistant for Senator David
Vitter and Intern for Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Amber Cassady
Amber Cassady, a Principal at Lewis-Burke, leads the firm’s national security practice
and spearheads both client-specific and firm-wide efforts in defense appropriations,
defense authorization, and engagement with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Military
Services. Amber is especially involved in the national security R&D ecosystem related
to manufacturing, microelectronics, and emerging technologies. She also leads the
firm’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) portfolio, most recently
keeping a pulse on “CHIPS”-specific opportunities and funding from the landmark CHIPS
and Science Act of 2022. Amber earned her B.A. in Global Studies, B.A. in Contemporary
European Studies, and M.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill.
