Opening Session Keynote Speaker: LeVar BurtonLeVar Burton launched his acting career while still a student at the University of Southern California. At 19, he found himself on the cover of Time Magazine after landing the groundbreaking role of Kunta Kinte in the landmark television series Roots. A seemingly impossible act to follow, Burton achieved further global acclaim as Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge in the iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation television series – a role he reprised in Star Trek: Picard in 2023. However, it has been his role as host and executive producer of the beloved PBS children's series Reading Rainbow, of which he is most proud. Airing from 1983 to 2009, it was not only one of the longest-running children's television shows in history but also one of the most acclaimed, earning over 200 awards, including multiple Emmys and a Peabody.
As the honored recipient of six NAACP Awards, a Peabody, a Grammy, and 14 Emmys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Children's & Family Emmys, Burton has demonstrated that he can do it all. In 2024, LeVar was awarded the National Humanities Medal by the National Endowment of the Humanities, at a ceremony in the Oval Office, bestowed by President Biden. Honored for his contributions to literacy in America, LeVar continues his focus on the importance of literature and storytelling in our everyday lives and is a staunch advocate against the banning of books.
With over 4 million social media followers, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a dedicated park in his hometown of Sacramento, this pop culture icon has the unique ability to reach across all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups – communicating to a large fan base that is highly engaged and motivated to embrace his message.
Melanie StoreyMelanie Storey is the president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), beginning her tenure on May 1, 2025. With decades of experience in federal higher education policy, financial aid operations, and organizational leadership, Storey brings deep expertise and a steadfast commitment to advancing access and equity in higher education.
Storey most recently served as director of policy implementation and oversight at the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), where she led cross-functional teams in translating federal policy into practice. She played a central role in implementing the FAFSA Simplification Act and the FUTURE Act, and contributed to major initiatives like federal student loan debt relief. She frequently represented FSA before congressional staff, administration officials, and higher education leaders.
Before joining the Department, Storey led policy and strategy work at the College Board and served as director of national initiatives at the American Council on Education (ACE), where she supported national commissions, analyzed legislative proposals, and led public service campaigns. Earlier in her career, she was a policy analyst at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), conducting research and collaborating with government relations staff on federal policy proposals impacting private institutions.
A proud first-generation college graduate and financial aid recipient, Storey earned a master's degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas at Austin and holds bachelor's degrees in economics and public policy from Smith College.
Perspectives of Belonging Event Speaker: Terrell BlountTerrell A. Blount is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network (FICGN),
a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing higher education opportunities for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals.
A prominent leader with lived experience, Terrell was a vocal advocate for the restoration of Pell Grants for incarcerated people. In 2021,
he represented currently and formerly incarcerated students during the U.S. Department of Education's Negotiated Rulemaking process.
With expertise in policy change, advocacy, program administration, philanthropy, and college reentry programming, Terrell is a well-rounded expert in movement building aimed at transformative change in the legal system. Previously, as Program Associate at the Vera Institute of Justice, he provided technical assistance to colleges and correctional agencies regarding college programs for incarcerated individuals using Pell grants.
Terrell brings over 20 years of leadership experience in both his profession and community. He was selected as an American Express Leadership Fellow in 2019, served as an Executive in Residence at JFF in 2021, and received the Black Boy Influencer Award from Academy365 in 2022. He is also a fellow in the 2025 cohort of Unlocked Futures, a program backed by John Legend through New Profit.
Terrell earned his Bachelor’s degree from the School of Communication & Information and his Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Nonprofit Management from the School of Public Affairs and Administration, both at Rutgers University.
General Session Speaker: Dr. Nathan GraweDr. Nathan Grawe is the Lloyd P. Johnson-Norwest professor of economics and the liberal arts at Carleton College where he has served on the faculty since 1999. Nathan earned his bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College and his master's and doctorate degrees in economics from the University of Chicago. His work as a labor economist studies the connections between family background and educational and labor market outcomes. Nathan's 2018 book, Demographics and The Demand for Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press) examines how recent demographic shifts are likely to affect demand for higher education and explores how colleges and policymakers may respond to meet institutional and national goals. In a follow-up project, The Agile College (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2021), Nathan draws on interviews with higher education leaders to provide examples of how proactive institutions are grappling with demographic change.