Education Advocate. Supplemental Education and Assessment Expert.

Akil Bello is a supplemental education and test-preparation expert with almost 3 decades of experience. Beginning as a proctor in 1990, Akil has worked at every level of test preparation from proctor to CEO, he has helped launch two companies, developed dozens of preparation programs for more than ten different high-stakes tests, trained hundreds of instructors, and helped thousands of students achieve success.

Akil was founding partner and CEO for Bell Curves, a test preparation company where he worked extensively to build community partnerships and programs. After selling his interests in Bell Curves, Akil was recruited to a leading test preparation company to lead initiatives to develop affordable solutions for public schools, non-profit organizations, and community-based organizations. His work in policy and advocacy continued as he moved on to work as a program and policy consultant, working with a wide range of institutions and organizations providing analysis, developing programs, and delivering workshops about access to higher education, developing supplemental education programs and understanding admission testing. Currently, Akil serves as Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at FairTest, where he works to build resources and tools to ensure that large scale assessment tests are used responsibly and transparently to benefit students.

As an active member in his community, Akil continues to support families, schools, and organizations by providing workshops on test preparation and achieving educational success with limited resources. A national presence in educational access and advocacy, he is frequently quoted in the press, a contributor for Forbes, and was featured in two documentaries, The Test and The Art of Thinking and Netflix’s Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal. A highly sought after speaker, Akil has recently delivered keynote addresses for the 2019 IACAC conference, 2021 CACRAO conference, and the 2023 Just Equations 2023 “The Mathematics of Math” Conference.

Akil attended an HBCU and ultimately earned a bachelor’s degree from a university in Brooklyn.