Leadership Team
Meet the dedicated leadership team behind NAMLE’s 2024 conference! Comprised of passionate volunteers who work with NAMLE staff members, our co-chairs exchange ideas, expertise, and more to ensure the success of this year’s event. Get to know the individuals shaping the future of media literacy education.
Conference Co-Chair
Bill Selak
Bill Selak is a Board Member of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. He is the Director of Technology at Hillbrook School, an Apple Distinguished School in Los Gatos, California, where he facilitated the creation and implementation of strategic and tactical technology plans, oversees the day-to-day operation of IT systems, and works with faculty and staff to effectively integrate technology into lesson plans.
In addition to his work at Hillbrook, Bill is also an adjunct faculty member at Concordia University Irvine teaching in the Master of Arts in Education Educational Technology program. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, ISTE Kay L. Bitter Vision Award recipient, ISTE 2013 Emerging Leader, and a Google Certified Innovator, and regularly presents at both local and international conferences.
Bill is currently obsessed with sharing his professional learning on his own podcast, Bill Selak Talks, and his school’s podcast, the Hillbrook Center for Teaching Excellence Podcast. You can find Bill on both the Twitters (as his mom calls it) and Instagram Stories (@billselak).
Conference Co-Chair
Elizabeth Ortiz
Elizabeth R. Ortiz is an experienced media and communication consultant, media literacy educator, and advocate for social justice. With over two decades of experience in media and communication education, she dedicates herself to empowering marginalized communities to challenge and dismantle the stereotypes perpetuated by mainstream media. Through her work, Ortiz endeavors to cultivate critical thinking and amplify underrepresented voices both online and offline, fostering a more equitable society.
Currently pursuing a PhD in Teaching, Learning & Technology at Lehigh University, Ortiz’s research centers on the experiences of Black and Latina woman and girls in media, focusing on how they navigate representations of race, gender, sexuality, and class.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Ortiz is the co-owner and marketing director of Cactus Blue Mexican Restaurant (@cactusbluemexican), where she merges her expertise with community engagement, supporting local nonprofits and fostering connections within the community.