Erik Fatemi

Principal
Washington, DC

Erik Fatemi

Principal
Washington, DC

Quick Facts

  • Advises a wide range of clients, particularly on health, education, research and youth development issues
  • Former staff director of the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Only non-NIH employee ever to receive the NIH Director’s Award from former Director Dr. Francis Collins
  • Frequent speaker on appropriations and public policy issues

Erik's Bio

Erik Fatemi joined Cornerstone in 2013 after serving 12 years on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education under Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA). He served as the Subcommittee’s staff director from 2010 to 2013.

During his time in the Senate, he oversaw the entire breadth of funding and policy issues in the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction, developing particular expertise in the areas of biomedical research and early childhood, secondary and higher education. He specialized in NIH issues for that entire period and is the only non-NIH employee ever to receive the NIH Director’s Award from former Director Dr. Francis Collins. Erik was the Senate’s key representative during negotiations with the House of Representatives and White House over the annual Labor-HHS-Education spending measure, and as a result of this position he maintains extensive relationships within the Executive Branch and both chambers of Congress.

Prior to Capitol Hill, Erik worked for a dozen years as a reporter, editor and columnist at various news organizations, most recently at Education Week, where he directed the publication’s coverage of federal education policy and education technology. Erik holds a degree in English from Princeton University. He is married and has three girls.

Services

Expertise

Education

A.B., Princeton University