Akil Bello Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Greater New York City Area

In this role I focus on supporting and expanding the advocacy work of the organization. Leveraging research and communications skills to consult with k16 administrators, present to industry professionals and engage with the media in order to improve understanding of appropriate use to tests, test optional policies, and equitable college admissions. Key activities include: Provide research, analysis, and advice to college admissions offices seeking to understand the implications of various test optional, test blind and test flexible policies. Build a network of individual, institutional, and organizational contacts to expand the contributions to the organization, specifically focusing on fund-raising to improve the organization’s technological infrastructure and website. Help frame the national conversation on educational policy, standardized testing, and access through relationships with journalists and contributions to articles and news stories.Work with educational organizations such as NEA to research policies and design public information campaigns.Co-author research papers including Paradoxical Purposes: The Use of College Entrance Exams, Test-Optional Admissions is Necessary but Insufficient addressing the systemic inequalities created by the use (and misuse) of high stakes testing.

Greater New York City Area

Provided research, analysis, and consulting services that shaped and improved policies and programs at institutions ranging from schools to universities to educational start-up businesses. Instigated significant policy changes at multiple Research 1 institutions through presentations to the senior administration officials on the impact of test-optional policies and the potential impact on recruitment, enrollment, financial aid, and rankings. .Authored technical analysis of Specialized High School Admissions Tests (SHSAT) for submission as testimony to City Council and State Assembly panels on Specialized Science High Schools admissions testing and policies as a part of the on-going debate of single-test admissions policy. Contributed to more than 15 articles on educational policy, access, and diversity in national media and at multiple educational conferences.Designed and facilitated trainings for the NYC Office of Equity and Access and the Office of Assessment to prepare over 200 NYC public school teachers to deliver test preparation courses for the Specialized High School Admission Test to more than 5000 public school students. Led curriculum and technology teams in the revision of over 300 pages of a non-profit ed tech company's existing instructional content and directed the updating and enhancement of the proprietary online learning management system. Conceived and directed pre-launch market analysis and research for an ed tech startup that enabled the business to refine its initial product offerings, better understand the competitive landscape, and fine tune its target audience.

Evaluate first-year domestic applications to a selective public flagship college.

Assessment for Good (AFG) is an Inclusive R&D program focused on dramatically improving conditions for the social and emotional health and positive academic outcomes of learners aged 8 through 13, with a special focus on Black and Latinx students. AFG will do this by identifying and creating new assessment tools that elevate a student’s expertise and cultivate the natural abilities they have, we can provide a more responsive learning environment that allows for exponential growth to occur. As a member of the AFG Investment Commitee, I review proposals, provide feedback and make reccomendations for feasibility of the project. assessment projects designed to submitted by groups of individuals and organizations.

New York, United States

Writer of articles on educational access, admission, and testing.

San Antonio, Texas Metropolitan Area

Provided research, data analysis and contextual understanding of the impact of particular changes to admissions and testing policies. Supported the university's transition to test-free admissions and aid policies.

United States

The position of Director of Equity and Access was created specifically to continue, on a national scale, the initiatives and accomplishments being realized with the local mandate of the of Director of Strategic Initiatives. This highly self-directed role focused on providing thought-leadership and expertise about the challenges, concerns, and solutions for low-income and underrepresented students, specifically focused on admission, admission testing, and degree completion in order to increase brand awareness and create mutually beneficial business opportunities.● Consulted with dozens of non-profit organizations serving thousands of students on crafting highly effective low-cost strategies to provide both local and national programmatic solutions for the students they served, assisting with grant-writing strategy, negotiating with test preparation organizations, identifying highly effective educational and outreach approaches, and presenting to various constituencies.● Secured invitations as a partner rather than vendor from organizations such as NYC DOE’s Brooklyn North SHSAT Awareness, Preparation and Testing Task and the Office of Postsecondary Readiness to present at leadership forums and meetings to provide insight and analysis of testing policies and proposed programmatic solutions.● Created partnerships with corporate initiatives such KPMG’s Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics Program, which led to a contract to provide GMAT preparation for more than 125 students, and YMCA of Greater NY’s Y-Scholars program, which led to a contract to provide SHSAT preparation for more than 250 low-income students.● Identified key business messaging opportunities (most recently, patterns of repeat test-taking based on demographics), designed and executed the research project to support that messaging, and provided findings to the marketing and sales team in order to more effectively build outreach campaign

Greater New York City Area

A position specifically created to design, structure, and serve as a model for a business strategy which focused on equity and access. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director of Strategic Initiatives was responsible for improving and expanding the relationship of the company with public schools and non-profit organizations. The activities focused primarily on building positive awareness of the company as one interested in supporting the full spectrum of students and organizations in the NYC and secondarily on driving business.● Contributed to a 37% growth in school-based sales through establishment of key contacts and relationships that fostered greater understanding of the products, services, and mission of the company.● Provided insight and information which led to a contract for over $250,000 with the Office of State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia.● Advised universities (e.g. Allen University and Bentley University), districts (e.g. NYC DOE, OSSE), and organizations (Democracy Prep NYC) on the optimal design of diversity outreach programs, test preparation programs, and support services.● Negotiated partnership with a national not-for-profit organization that serves over 1,500 students to deliver programming in 4 cities and generated over $50,000 in revenue.● Presented nationally at conferences including NYSACAC, NPEA, PhD Project, KIPP Schools Summit, and Yale Explore Diversity Weekend on test preparation, building partnerships, and access.● Monitored industry trends and initiatives in order to inform marketing strategy, program design, and operational needs as well as ensure that the leadership effectively address the growing school based sales operations.● Drove an initiative to revamp outdated marketing presentations and updated marketing collateral to more truly reflect the broader clientele that the company served.

Greater New York City Area

A start-up founded with the mission to increase access to higher education by partnering with organizations and institutions that serve low-income and underrepresented communities to deliver highly customized test preparation solutions and admission information.● Led the organization to a 200% revenue growth from year 1 to year 5 year of operations and ultimately reaching annual earnings of around one million dollars.● Negotiated contracts and oversaw business development, including the successful merger with a similar company with gross revenue of more than $500,000 per year.● Recruited, hired, trained, and managed staff of 7 full-time employees and up to 60 part-time employees located locally, nationally, and internationally.● Successfully implemented and led content development teams to create curriculum and programs for the NYS Assessments, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, ACT, SAT, ISEE, SHSAT, and SSAT for delivery in 8 cities and via online platforms.● Built partnerships with more than 50 institutions, including Clark Atlanta University, HBCU Business Deans Roundtable, Oliver Scholars, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Office of State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia, and the PhD Project.● Conceived of and oversaw the development of proprietary PHP/AJAX web-based user and contentmanagement system, serving over 2300 users annually, including students, teachers, and systemadministrators.● Researched and analyzed factors impacting test performance for historically underperforming groups to develop and enhance programs and to inform constituencies in the educational community.