Kimberly Akano is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Religion at Princeton University where she is also pursuing a certificate in African American Studies. Her research interests include histories of Black migration, politics, and higher education with a focus on African migration to the US during the twentieth century. In addition to her academic research, Kimberly has worked as a GradFUTURES University Administrative Fellow where she coordinated programming exploring the past, present, and future of higher education in the US. Currently, she is a Social Impact Fellow in Marketing and Communications in the Journals Division of the University of Pennsylvania Press. She is passionate about program management, digital storytelling, and working with collaborative teams.

"With the support of my mentor, James M. Van Wyck, I am eager to coordinate the 'Graduate Education: Then, Now, Next' seminar series with GradFutures. Especially during this time when students, faculty, staff, and administrators are (re)evaluating the efficacy and significance of graduate education, I hope my work will foster honest reflections and imaginative dialogue. I also look forward to cultivating new opportunities for sustained collaboration within and beyond the university."