Sessions & Speakers

Jonathan Fansmith is the senior vice president for Government Relations and National Engagement at the American Council on Education (ACE), where he leads federal advocacy efforts on behalf of the nation's colleges and universities. He oversees ACE's engagement with Congress, federal agencies, and the courts on key issues including student aid, regulation, research funding, and tax policy. Since assuming this role in 2022, Fansmith has led efforts to modernize and expand ACE's advocacy strategies to meet a rapidly evolving policy environment. He played a key role in launching ACE's National Engagement Office in 2023, which works to influence public debates on the role and value of higher education and support institutions in navigating shifting state policies affecting academic freedom and institutional autonomy. In previous roles with ACE, he led the higher education community's work on Higher Education Act reauthorization and efforts to secure relief funding for students and institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this work, he and the Government Relations and Public Affairs team were recognized with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators 2021 Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education Award. Fansmith is a frequent commentator on higher education policy, appearing in outlets such as The Washington Post, Politico, The New York Times, CNN, Roll Call, Fox News, Bloomberg, The Chronicle of Higher Education, National Public Radio, USA Today, National Journal, and Inside Higher Ed. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Inside Higher Ed, and The Journal of College and University Law. He cohosts ACE's dotEDU podcast and is a frequent speaker at conferences, webinars, and public forums on postsecondary education. Fansmith serves on the Think College National Coordinating Center Accreditation Workgroup, which was established under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. He is a past president and former executive committee member of the Committee for Education Funding. Fansmith earned a bachelor's degree in history from Georgetown University and a master's degree in government from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, two daughters, and a poorly trained dog.

Melanie 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.