Akil Bello

Akil Bello is an educational access expert with more than three decades of experience working at the intersection of admissions testing, policy, and advocacy. Beginning as a test proctor in 1990, he has worked at every level of the field—launching companies, consulting with universities, developing preparation programs for more than ten high-stakes tests, training hundreds of instructors, and helping thousands of students achieve success. He was a founding partner of Bell Curves, a test preparation company focused on improving outcomes for low-income and underrepresented students through deep community partnerships and affordable solutions. He also served as Director of Equity and Access at The Princeton Review and Senior Director of Advocacy at FairTest, where he shaped national higher education admissions testing policy and championed the responsible use of large-scale assessments. Currently, Akil serves as Director of College Advising and FAFSA Completion Implementation at SUNY, leading partnerships with New York City Public Schools to strengthen college access infrastructure and improve FAFSA completion rates across the state. Akil attended the University of the Virgin Islands before earning his bachelor's degree from Pratt Institute.