Opening Keynote Speaker - Louie GravanceFormer Disney Institute Facilitator, Actor, Comedian. Focused on Creating the Happiest Workplace on EarthLouie Gravance is a top business keynote speaker, actor, comedian, and former Disney Institute Facilitator. Beginning with the training and orientation program “Traditions” at The Disney University, Louie designed, developed, and delivered countless presentations. First, at the University for literally thousands of Disney World employees from all disciplines, and then for visiting corporate clients through the Disney Institute Professional Development Programs.
Plenary Keynote Speaker - Dr. Camesha Whittaker-SamuelChief Executive Officer Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties
Dr. Camesha Whittaker-Samuel brings over two decades of innovative leadership experience in nonprofit management, education technology, and community advocacy to her role as Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia/Flagler Counties (BGCVFC). A visionary leader and audacious innovator, Dr. Whittaker Samuel has a distinguished record of launching transformative initiatives, fostering strategic partnerships, and advancing organizational growth. Before joining BGCVFC, Dr. Whittaker-Samuel served as the Chief Learning & Innovation Officer at the Propel Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Under her leadership, the Propel Center launched its inaugural tech product, Propel Learn, in 2023, impacting nearly 7,000 users in its first year and providing career upskilling opportunities for over 300,000 HBCU students nationwide. Dr. Whittaker-Samuel has led Propel’s virtual campus operations, overseeing product development, instructional design, curriculum innovation, and faculty development. Her work has been pivotal in equipping students with the tools and knowledge to advance the global workforce.
Dr. Whittaker-Samuel’s influence extends beyond education technology. She is a nationally recognized thought leader whose expertise has been showcased on platforms such as C-SPAN and PBS. Before her time at Propel, she served as the inaugural Director of the BJ Moore Center for Faculty Innovation at Bethune-Cookman University, where she managed e-learning and faculty development while mentoring hundreds of educators and students. An award-winning academic and business communication expert, Dr. Whittaker-Samuel holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Regent University, a Master’s degree in Public Communication from American University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Bethune-Cookman University.
 AACRAO Session Presenter - Julia FunakiDirector, International, AACRAO, Research & Policy DivisionJulia Funaki received her Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University and worked for the Columbus Council on World Affairs. Julia attended a graduate program at American University and worked in domestic and international admissions for the University. Upon completion of her Master’s in International Communication, she took a job in the foreign student services office at Ohio Wesleyan University. After returning to Washington and completing a Master’s in International Education with an emphasis in Higher Ed Administration, Julia worked for the University of Maryland College Park in International Education Services.
In 1996, Julia joined the staff at AACRAO. She has collaborated with NACAC, NAGAP, PESC, and NAFSA: AIE, LSAC, and others. She has served as an author, editor, presenter, committee member, and chair, and serves on the faculty for AACRAO.
 AACRAO Session Presenter - Dale KingAACRAO Senior FellowDale King is a leading authority on student privacy law and has 13 years of experience administering the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). Prior to his current position as Senior Fellow, Dale served as Senior Policy Advisor on student privacy within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development (OPEPD). Dale also served eight years as director of the Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office. Dale’s federal experience extends well beyond student privacy. He served as director of Policy, Research, and Evaluation Services within the Department’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, which administers the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act) and Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA). He began his federal career in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services working to improve the services to individuals with disabilities. Dale started his career as a special education teacher and has held leadership positions at both the local and state levels. Dale has dedicated his entire professional career to the betterment of the education of our nation’s students. Dale earned an MS degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee.
AACRAO Session Presenter - William GilSenior Director, Government Relations Research and Policy DivisionWilliam (Bill) Gil, Senior Director, Government Affairs, AACRAO In this role, he implements the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission officers (AACRAO’s) public policy agenda and oversees federal government relations, legislative, policy and regulatory matters that could possibly impact the AACRAO membership, which is comprised of 11,000 individual members at over 2,600 higher education institutions. He provides information and strategic advice regarding developments in education policy and regulations relating to college admissions, records, student privacy, financial aid and other issues impacting higher education at the federal, state and local levels.Prior to this position he was the Vice President of Programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) where he oversaw all day-to-day managerial aspects of CHCI’s leadership development programs and educational services including the Congressional Internship, Public Policy Fellowship, Graduate Fellowship, Ready to Lead, Scholarship award programs, as well as CHCI’s educational resources, activities and tools. He was also the Associate Vice President for Collegiate Programs and Federal Relations for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). In this position he was responsible for all aspects of the largest Hispanic internship program in the nation, which coordinates internships for over 600 individuals per year, and forged stronger relationships between the organization, the White House, Congress, federal agencies and member institutions, as well as other national applicable higher education and Hispanic organizations and associations. He also oversaw all regulatory issues that impacted Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).
Other working experiences include serving as the Executive Director, as well as a Legislative Assistant, for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), an informal group of Hispanic Members of Congress that is dedicated to advancing issues that affect Latinos in the United States through the legislative process. He has also worked for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program of Arlington County, The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). He was born in Venezuela and moved to the United States with his family at young age. He has a Masters in Public Administration from the George Mason University and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a double major in Economics and Spanish Literature. He and his wife Kelly reside in Arlington, VA with their two sons - Alexander Rafael and Dominic Vicente.
AACRAO Session Presenter - Michael BilfingerAssistant Directory, Public Policy Research & Policy DivisionMichael (Mike) Bilfinger helps to oversee the association's policy and advocacy efforts and serves as editor and contributor to AACRAO Transcript. Mike initially joined AACRAO as an intern for Marketing and Communications before then joining staff full-time as the Associate Director, Membership & Awards. He now serves as the Assistant Director of Public Policy. Mike was born and raised on Long Island, New York where he earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Philosophy from SUNY Stony Brook University. During his time in undergrad, Mike was fortunate to have the opportunity to study abroad for a month each in Spain, South Korea, China, Chile, and Peru. He then moved to Washington, DC to pursue a Master of Public Administration at American University, which he completed in 2023. Mike is a strong proponent of car-free living and enjoys commuting on his bike, indoor bouldering at his local gym, and listening to music whenever possible.
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