About Us

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

With over 15 years of experience in federal education policy, Michael Itzkowitz has held senior roles inside and outside of government. His work and expertise is often cited by national news outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and NBC. 

Prior to beginning the HEA Group, Michael worked as a Presidential Appointee in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Department of Education, where he was the Director of the Administration's College Scorecard—the largest release of higher education data ever by the Federal government.  He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of Postsecondary Education, where he helped oversee the policy and administrative functions of the office, including over 180 employees across three divisions that disburse approximately $2.5 billion in grants and establish policy for nearly $120 billion in Federal student aid every year.

SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGY ADVISOR

Min Goodman-Cheng brings six years of communications experience from across the political and policy sectors. She recently concluded more than five years of service in the U.S. Senate, most recently as Communications Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. In this role, she led a team advising Chair Sherrod Brown on press and digital strategy covering issues from infrastructure investments to national security, bank failures, and Congress's COVID-19 response. Previously, Min was a key member of the Third Way Education communications team, where she generated and executed innovative approaches to social media and press relations.

PROJECT MANAGER & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

Olivia Oestreicher is an emerging higher education professional committed to strengthening and communicating the value of postsecondary education for students, families, taxpayers, and the nation. This May, she will earn an Ed.M. in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship with a concentration in Higher Education at Harvard University. She earned her B.S. in Political Science and Communication Studies, summa cum laude, from Northeastern University and was a Leadership for Social Change Fellow at Mills College.

Olivia also works as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Workforce Development & Public Affairs Fellow with New England FIRST, and a Development Intern with the National Consumer Law Center. She has also held roles at Tremont Strategies Group, FGS Global, the Product Stewardship Institute, and the offices of Massachusetts State Representatives Smitty Pignatelli and Danillo A. Sena.

RESEARCH & DATA ANALYST

David Zannou joins the HEA Group as a Research & Data Analyst, bringing expertise in data analytics, visualization, and technology solutions. Drawing on his degree in Information Science from the University of Maryland and hands-on experience with tools like Excel, SQL, and Power BI, David will expand our capacity for large-scale data analysis, interactive data visualization, and cross-platform systems work. His contributions help make higher education outcomes data more accessible and actionable for policymakers, institutional leaders, and the public.

Outside of academics and professional work, David enjoys fitness, automotive culture, trading, and exploring emerging technologies. David is passionate about using data and technology to improve transparency, accessibility, and decision-making across industries.

SENIOR POLICY AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ADVISOR

Laura Jimenez is a 20-year veteran in the education industry, serving as a teacher, policymaker, and technical assistance provider across the United States. Most recently, she served as the director of the Office of State and Grantee Relations at the U.S. Department of Education where she oversaw the successful administration of $200 billion in federal education covid-relief funding to K-12 schools. Other roles include the director of standards and accountability at a Washington D.C. think tank and the director of the American Institute for Research's College and Career Readiness and Success Center, which provided technical assistance to State departments of education.