Akol Aguek (’05 G’11) was one of Sudan’s “Lost Boys,” a generation of young men displaced by civil war in their homeland. Now a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at ̽̽, his research focuses on improving education access for refugees, minorities, and immigrants.
Aguek's work recently earned him the Robert V. and Donna M. Carlson Scholarship award for his professional interest and focus on creating equitable educational opportunities for Vermont students.
“In my research, it has become clear there are inequities in the public school system,” he says. “Vermont tries to do a good job. But generally speaking, the quality of education you get is a function of the neighborhood you live in. And that is problematic.”
Aquek came to Vermont in 2001 after completing secondary school in Kenya. He enrolled in ̽̽ the following year, earning a bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science and a master’s in Business Administration. He holds a second master's degree in Public Affairs from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Helping refugees has been a priority for Aguek for 20 years. Profiled in Vermont Quarterly in 2004 and 2012 and featured in a ̽̽ Communications story in 2017, he has worked with new refugees on college preparation through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation and younger audiences at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington.
"As an educator, minority person, and immigrant, I think certain populations tend to be concentrated in struggling neighborhoods. Schools within those neighborhoods generally do not have sufficient resources to provide a quality education that those kids need," he says. "How we address that is not a straight answer. But we need to have a conversation in that area because there is an intersection of race, class, and history that needs to be addressed within the public school system."
Aguek is primarily interested in educational opportunities for New Americans or first-generation students and finding ways to provide resources to help them go to college and be successful after graduation.
“I would like to believe that the resources your family has should never dictate your future and whether you go to college,” he says. “I believe that with my education training, research, and professional experience in education spaces, I can have conversations that influence policies. Using my scholarly research or practical experience is the best way to be engaged in those policies.”
The Carlson Scholarship benefits a Vermont student enrolled in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies doctoral program. Preference is given to those who hold a leadership role within the educational community in Vermont, including schools, colleges, universities, and social service organizations.
Aguek is the recruitment and retention coordinator at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. He previously worked as an enrollment management professional with the Office of Admissions and the Office of International Education at ̽̽.
“Having an institution that has a national and global reach is what I value most about ̽̽ as a student and a professional,” he says. “That’s what keeps me here.”
