Maria del Pilar Murguia was born in Bolivia and raised across Italy and Colombia! Her multicultural life experience allowed her to learn firsthand the challenges that living in different countries entails!  With a business background, Pilar started working in International Higher education since June 2003 at John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. The focus of her work at JCU was and is to establish and maintain an environment that supports learning, encourages a strong sense of community, and promotes student development through active engagement in university life. 

Pilar currently directly supervises the areas of Athletics, Outdoor Education Programs, Performing Arts, Student Activities and Trips, and Student Leadership Programs (OL, OSA, Student Clubs). She is part of the board of the Crisis Management Team of her University, as well as the University strategic planning committee.

Pilar is a certified Student Leadership Challenge practitioner, and her continued interest in intercultural leadership makes her curious about all new trends in the field. She is an active member AACUPI, NASPA, EUCA among other associations.

Ms. Wadad Youssef El Housseini started her career as in higher education as Instructor of Social Sciences at Balamand University in Lebanon where she taught for a decade. In 2001, she joined the American University of Beirut as Director of Student Activities. In 2009, she joined Qatar University as Consultant to VP of student affairs where she resumed the responsibility of Acting Director of Student Activities till May 2012. Her role entitled her to get involved in various strategic initiatives to ensure the success of Qatar University students. She is the chair of the Student Affairs Professional Development committee at Qatar University.

Founding member and former vice president for the IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services). Member of the MENASA-NASPA board for 2020-2023. Recipient of the Wisdom Award of the Commission of Women’s Identities – ACPA in 2021. Interested in Leadership of Higher Education and Student Affairs, assessment and women role in higher education.

Well known for having her finger on the pulse of the region, Wadad continues to be an engaged advocate of professional development, and student affairs leadership in the Middle East.

Cory Owen is the Associate Dean of Student Life and Chief Student Affairs Officer in residence at Schwarzman College.  Cory has served in numerous student affairs roles across a variety of educational institutions over the past 20 years, including as the Dean of Students of Yale-NUS College in Singapore, and in student-facing roles at The Juilliard School, Rice University, and Semester at Sea.  Cory is from the U.S. and has been based in Singapore for the past six years. She holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration & Supervision from the University of Houston.

Ahmed Osman is an accomplished higher education executive and student affairs leader with more than 22 years of progressive experience advancing student success, leadership development, and institutional engagement within The City University of New York (CUNY).

As University Student & Residence Life Director within CUNY’s Central Office of Student Affairs, Ahmed provides strategic leadership across student life, orientation, residence life, and student leadership development. His work focuses on creating integrated student experiences that foster belonging, engagement, leadership capacity, and student success.
Ahmed provides strategic oversight of the Ernesto Malave Leadership Academy, where he has developed and implemented leadership development initiatives that prepare students to serve as effective leaders, advocates, and change agents within CUNY and their communities. His approach to leadership emphasizes civic engagement, advocacy, global citizenship, inclusion, and the development of the whole student.

A respected voice in higher education and student affairs, Ahmed presented at national and international conferences, including NASPA and the European Conference for Student Affairs and Services. He also serves on the NASPA International Symposium Planning Committee, contributing to conversations and initiatives that advance student affairs practice in an increasingly global higher education environment.

Ahmed holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College, The City University of New York. As an S+EI Certified Coach, he brings an additional dimension of coaching and leadership development to his work, supporting individuals and emerging leaders in reaching their professional and personal potential.
His leadership philosophy is grounded in student-centered practice, strategic collaboration, diversity, equity, inclusion, community engagement, and a commitment to empowering individuals and communities to create meaningful and sustainable change.

Gian Luca is a lawyer registered with the Italian bar association. He has been on the board of directors of Collegio Universitario Internazionale di Roma (CUIR) since 1992, advocating for the integration of life skills in the academic curricula and working for national recognition of University Colleges of Merit (Collegi di Merito) to foster academic excellence in Italy. Recognising the added value of internationalization in higher education, Gian Luca promoted the creation of the European University College Association (EucA) in 2006, and he has been its president ever since. During his tenure with EucA, Gian Luca has pursued the association’s growth, and official recognition by European Union institutions of University Colleges’ role in providing a holistic education for students that strengthens their development and employability. While at EucA, he has overseen the creation and management of European research projects, namely Modernising Higher Education through Soft Skills Accreditation (MODES). He is a keen supporter of NASPA -Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, with which he has collaborated since 2012 in the organization of International Events, and he is a co-author of the volume "Supporting Students globally in Higher Education", published in 2016 by NASPA.

When not engaging with EucA projects and students in Brussels, Rome or other European cities, Gian Luca is an enthusiastic promoter of “made in Italy” products: be it Italian fashion, cuisine or wines, he persuasively argues-as any lawyer does-the advantages of buying Italian goods.