WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Education today announced additional appointees who will work to implement President Trump’s America First education agenda.
James Bergeron – Deputy Under Secretary
James Bergeron recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of Higher Education Resources. In this capacity, he provided day-to-day leadership, operational management, financial health, direction, and growth to the organization and assisted members in carrying out their public service missions to increase college access and success. Previously, James worked as the Director of Education and Human Services Policy for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce where he developed and managed the committee’s legislative agenda, including the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, and Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. Before joining the committee, James served as Legislative Director for Rep. Buck McKeon where he was responsible for developing the legislative agenda within the House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness around financial aid simplification and regulatory relief. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Julie Hartman – Senior Advisor, Office of Communications and Outreach
Julie is a broadcast host and writer. After discovering Dennis Prager's work in college, Julie became his intern and began appearing once-weekly on his nationally-syndicated radio show. In August 2021, Julie guest-hosted three-hour broadcasts of both The Dennis Prager Show and The Mike Gallagher Show, becoming the youngest person yet known to solo guest host a nationally syndicated radio or TV program. Julie was then hired by the Salem Media Group to co-host a show with Dennis Prager, Dennis & Julie, as well as host her own thrice-weekly show, Timeless with Julie Hartman. She also served as the standing guest host for all of Salem's nationally syndicated talk radio shows. Julie has appeared on international news, including SkyNews Australia, GB News, and Vox India; delivered speeches in Romania, Hungary, and England; and has written for The Wall Street Journal, The American Mind, and The Washington Examiner, among others. Julie graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2022 with a B.A. in History.
Amber Mariano Davis – Policy Advisor, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development
Amber Mariano Davis joins the Department as a Policy Advisor in the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. She brings extensive experience in education policy, legislative leadership, and advocacy. At 21, she made history as the youngest person ever elected to the Florida House of Representatives. She served three terms and chaired the Postsecondary and Lifelong Learning Subcommittee, championing policies to strengthen higher education, expand workforce development, and improve career pathways. Most recently, she served as Director of State Government Affairs at Code.org, leading nationwide efforts to expand computer science education. Davis remains committed to shaping policies that empower students, strengthen the workforce, and expand educational opportunity.
Savannah Newhouse – Special Assistant, Office of Communications and Outreach
Savannah Newhouse will serve as Special Assistant in the Office of Communications and Outreach, bringing vast experience in press, digital, and broadcast media to the team. Savannah most recently served as Communications Director for Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) successful re-election campaign in Tennessee. Prior to that, she worked on Capitol Hill as both Senator Blackburn’s Press Secretary and Digital Director. She also served as Press Secretary on Senator Bill Hagerty’s (R-Tenn.) 2020 race. Savannah grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and holds a B.S. in Political Science from Belmont University.
Isaac Hampton – Special Assistant on Higher Education, Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs
Isaac Hampton is a proud native of Missouri and a graduate of Truman State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics. At Truman, he served as College Republican Chairman from 2018 to 2019, and there wrote his capstone economics paper, “Determinants of Student Performance on Standardized Exams,” which highlighted the power of decentralized education systems and parental involvement in educational choices. Isaac has served as the Legislative Assistant for HD 130 in the Missouri House of Representatives, worked as a Series 7 and 63 Financial Representative, and most recently as the Regional Election Integrity Director for the Montana GOP during the 2024 election. He is excited to work for the President and the Department to return educational decision-making to parents and local communities.
Nicholas Stone – Special Assistant on K-12, Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs
Nicholas Stone joins the Department after most recently serving on the Trump-Vance 60th Presidential Inaugural Committee. He previously served as a Regional Field Director for the Trump campaign in his home state of New Hampshire during the First in the Nation Primary. Following this, he then served as the Political Field Director for the State of Maine. Nicholas graduated from Plymouth State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Nicholas has also contributed to his community by serving on the Claremont, N.H., School Board where he worked to improve educational quality and advance student success. In addition, he served on the Claremont Planning Board, focusing on efficient development and community planning.