Lamar Shambley - Opening Keynote

Lamar Shambley is a former high school Spanish teacher and the Founder and Executive Director of Teens of Color Abroad, also known as TOCA, a nonprofit organization that creates language learning and cultural exchange programs for students of color. Since 2018, TOCA has sponsored passports for over 50 students, served over 1,000 youth worldwide, and awarded over $500,000 in language learning and study abroad scholarships. His work has been featured in Travel + Leisure Magazine, NASDAQ, Teen Vogue, the Global Youth Travel Awards, and Rick Steves’ Europe. He received his B.A. in Modern Languages and Literature from the College of William & Mary in Virginia and his M.A. in Teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education in New York City.

Everette Jordan (Panel 1)

Mr. Jordan is a recently retired U.S. Government professional with a 45-year career focused on foreign language learning, technology, leadership, and program development. His notable roles include Russian Language Specialist in the U.S. Army, Founding Director of the National Virtual Translation Center, Chairman of several language advisory boards, and induction into the Defense Language Institute Hall of Fame. Beyond language, he held senior leadership positions within U.S. Intelligence Community agencies, served on Congressional Intelligence Committees post-9/11, and ended his career as Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intelligence Community Integration. Now, he works as a Certified Tour Guide at the U.S. Naval Academy, serves on the Association of Former Intelligence Officers’ Board, is a licensed Group Fitness Instructor, and volunteers in Prison Ministry. He holds degrees in Russian Studies and Theology, a Certified Diversity Executive credential, and is a lifelong learner of multiple languages. 

David Popelier (Panel 1)

David Popelier is CEO of Acclaim Technical Services (ATS), a leading provider of linguistic, engineering, and mission-related services to the U.S. Government. With over 20 years in the national security community, he has held roles at the State Department, SAIC, LMI, and Oracle, co-founded and sold the consulting firm FourWinds, and led executive-level consulting engagements. David has managed global programs involving dozens of languages, served as a Spanish/Portuguese linguist, and frequently travels to Latin America. He holds an MBA from George Mason University, a Master’s in National Security Studies from Georgetown, a Bachelor’s in Spanish and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and certifications in analytics and project management. 

Dr. Michael Herrera (Panel 1)

Dr. Herrera is a leader in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and workforce development whose innovative approach to curriculum design and community engagement has greatly enhanced student employability and regional economic growth. As Executive Director of Upper Bucks County Technical School (PA), he has led significant increases in student enrollment and forged strong industry partnerships, highlighting the essential connection between language and economic success. A frequent presenter at national conferences, Dr. Herrera also collaborates with legislators to strengthen the ties between education, business, and the workforce. With more than two decades in public education, numerous published articles, and participation in the national ACTE Fellowship program, he is deeply committed to transformative educational initiatives and comprehensive workforce development. Dr. Herrera earned his doctorate from St. Elizabeth University and a master’s degree from Seton Hall University, both in educational leadership. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his children and dog.

Lisa Zajur (Panel 1)

Lisa Zajur is the Executive Director of Educational Programs for the Virginia Hispanic Foundation and a passionate educator specializing in communications, curriculum design, and leadership. A certified cultural trainer, she created the award-winning Awaken the Spanish Within® Language and Cultural Training programs and developed Voice Tonality™ technology, a patent-pending system that enhances language learning through a whole-brain approach. Her programs have been used by organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard, Bank of America, and Richmond Public Schools, and have been featured in Hispanic Trends Magazine, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Hispanics Today. Dedicated to empowering youth, Lisa launched Pasaporte a la Educación, a bilingual mentoring program recognized by MentorVA as Mentor Program of the Year (2022) and Champion Mentor Program (2024). She also established free dental clinics for Hispanic youth and co-authored Piñata Story, a children’s book celebrating cultural heritage. Honored as the 2025 YWCA Woman of the Year in Business and recipient of the Community Legend Award from the EEOC Urban League, Lisa continues to inspire through her leadership, advocacy, and educational innovation. 

Jarrett Lash - Lunch Keynote

Dr. L. J. Randolph  (Panel 2)

Dr. L. J. Randolph Jr. is an assistant professor of World Language Education and affiliate faculty in Second Language Acquisition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before working in higher education, he spent a decade as a Spanish and ESL teacher at the high school level. His research and teaching focus on various critical issues in language education, including teaching Spanish as a heritage/home/community language, incorporating justice-centered/anti-racist/anti-colonial pedagogies, and centering Blackness and Indigenousness. He is a co-editor of the volume How We Take Action: Social Justice in PreK-16 Classrooms (Information Age Publishing, 2023). An advocate for abolitionist, liberationist, and transformative language education, he has held leadership roles in many professional language associations at the state and national level, including 2024 president of ACTFL (originally founded as the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Priscilla Colón (Panel 2)

Priscilla Colón is a writer, artist, and educator with over 20 years of experience in language programs, dedicated to revitalizing the Taíno language and culture through her organization Casa Areyto, which offers public events and the world’s first digital Taíno course. She co-chairs Ad-hoc Group 1 for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022–2032), leading the creation of the first Global Survey on Indigenous Languages and helping develop UNESCO recommendations to preserve Indigenous languages. Her work honors her Taíno heritage and supports global efforts to protect Indigenous languages for future generations. 

Lisa Fore (Panel 2)

Lisa Fore is a dedicated World Language educator and department chair at Abingdon High School in Washington County, Virginia. With over 30 years of experience, she inspires students in a rural community to explore global languages and cultures through innovative, real-world learning. A strong advocate for language education and professional growth, Lisa is active in state and regional organizations supporting teacher development. She holds Bachelor's degrees in Spanish and Mathematics from Emory & Henry College as well as a Master's in Education from Virginia Tech. Recently honored with the 2025 David Cox FLAVA Excellence in Teaching K–12 Award, Lisa continues to connect students to the wider world through cultural exploration and travel. 

Julia Hosage (Panel 2)

Julia grew up in a bilingual Portuguese-English household in Vienna, Virginia, which inspired her to study Spanish, French, Chinese, and Arabic and volunteer at a Brazilian heritage language school. Her experience as a high school Spanish translator deepened her interest in applied linguistics and translation’s role in supporting multilingual communities. Now an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis studying International Affairs, Economics, and Linguistics, Julia focuses on language acquisition and English as a second language, aiming to build a career that blends interdisciplinary study with advocacy for inclusive language learning. 

Ryan McElveen - Closing Keynote

Ryan McElveen serves as managing director of the U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET), where he advances educational and cultural exchange between the United States and China. Previously, he was associate director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, launching and coordinating U.S.-China dialogues on topics such as artificial intelligence, national security, trade, and food security. His diverse career spans roles in government, NGOs, academia, and the private sector, including work with Boeing, Columbia University, the Clinton Global Initiative, the China Institute, and the University of Virginia Center in Shanghai. A graduate of Fairfax County Public Schools, Ryan is now serving his third term as a member-at-large on the Fairfax County School Board, where he was once the youngest elected official in Virginia. He is the founder of the Global Leaders of Fairfax County program, which empowers high school seniors to become globally minded citizens and community leaders.