The Future of Digital Equity

Ji Soo Song, Digital Equity Advisor at U.S. Department of Education (Moderator)

At the U.S. Department of Education, Ji Soo leads the Office of Educational Technology’s (OET) digital equity initiatives to expand adoption of reliable, high-speed broadband and digital tools for learning. He also develops intra- and inter-agency partnerships to close the digital divide for learners furthest from opportunities and provides subject matter expertise to external capacity building and technical assistance efforts. 

Prior to OET, Ji Soo was the senior policy advisor at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), where he led the research, analysis, and communication of public policy issues concerning digital learning standards and frameworks, educator credentialing, and funding for professional development. Ji Soo represented ISTE as a board member for the Title IV-A Coalition and the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training. 

Ji Soo holds a B.A. in biology and education from Dartmouth College and M.Ed. in education policy and leadership from American University. He was a 2021-2022 fellow with the Institute for Educational Leadership’s Education Policy Fellowship Program. Ji Soo served as a City Year DC AmeriCorps Member, where he taught third-grade mathematics and robotics and received the 2018 WilmerHale Civic Innovation Award, and is currently a member of the organization’s associate board.

Alejandro Roark, Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC

Alejandro Roark is the Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. Previously, Mr. Roark served as the Executive Director for HTTP, a CEO Roundtable of national Latino civil rights organizations working in partnership to promote access, adoption, and the full utilization of technology and telecommunications resources by the Latino community across the United States. Under his leadership he established HTTP’s Digital Inclusion Summit, becoming the premier national convening of multicultural tech policy leaders and digital inclusive advocates nationwide. Prior to his position with HTTP, Mr. Roark led the digital equity and consumer education efforts for LULAC National – including the establishment of the LULAC’s Tech Luncheon and the production of its regional Latino Tech Summit.

Mara Candelaria Reardon, Deputy Director of Public Engagement, NTIA

Mara Candelaria Reardon was the first Latina elected as a State Representative to the Indiana General Assembly and served 6 terms. In 2018, Mara was elected by her colleagues, as Chair of the Indiana House Democrat Caucus, a groundbreaking Caucus that was made up of a majority of women for the first time in the history of the State of Indiana. During her tenure she specialized in budget and fiscal issues, serving on the Ways and Means Committee. Additionally, Mara has championed legislation addressing such topics as workplace discrimination, drug courts, prevention of sexual harassment, career and technical training programs, minimum teacher salaries, and a statewide smoking ban. She serves as Chair of the National Association of Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Education Fund Board of Directors, as well as a Director at Indiana American Water, and as a Trustee on the Lake County Library Board. Mara has a passion for yoga and a newly developed passion for all things Broadband. She has been married to Matthew Reardon for 25 years and they reside in Munster, Indiana.

Mark Colon, Director, Office of Public Engagement, NTIA