Akol was born in Sudan (now South Sudan) and grew up herding long-horned cows along the Nile and later in Kenya, where he attended elementary and secondary school. Akol moved to Burlington, Vermont from Kenya in the summer of 2001 as a part of the Lost Boys of Sudan and has been a Vermont resident since then.
Akol is a double and soon to be UVM triple alum, with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science, a master’s in Business Administration, and currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (focusing on economics of education and post college career outcomes). Akol holds a second master’s degree in Public Affairs from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Akol has a UVM scholarship named after him, the Akol Aguek Scholarship for Vermont’s new American students attending UVM. Akol is also the recipient of the 2021 Robert and Donna Carlson Doctoral Scholarship meant for a doctoral student whose professional interest focuses on creating equitable educational opportunities for Vermont students. Akol enjoys whistling, singing, Dinka traditional dance, and playing dominoes during his free time.