Queenstar Akrong

Queenstar Akrong is a seasoned strategist and advocate in the education sector. She is a senior director at Whiteboard Advisors, working on advocacy and government affairs strategies for education, equity, and postsecondary access initiatives. Akrong's previous role at the College Board saw her spearhead internal and external equity initiatives, including managing national outreach for a $25 million College Board Opportunity Scholarships program. Her work in politics is notable, having served on Capitol Hill in the office of Nancy Pelosi through the Congressional Black Caucus Emerging Leaders Program. In addition to these roles, Akrong also contributes her expertise as an Elect-Her facilitator at Running Start: Bringing Young Women to Politics and as a diversity and inclusion facilitator with Factuality.

Akrong's experience extends to the realm of media and communications, where she is known for her work in multimedia programming and social impact initiatives targeted toward underrepresented audiences. She was instrumental in developing, creating, and facilitating nearly 100 in-person and multimedia events and on-camera interviews. In 2024, she served as the founding host of the "For Your Health News Podcast" in collaboration with the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative and the National Minority Quality Forum. Akrong also led the creation of the "Queen's Court," a video interview series highlighting change-makers at the intersection of learning and economic mobility.

As a social impact entrepreneur, Akrong is the founder of "No Debt Degree," an online advising platform providing college-affordability advice and workshops to decrease student loan debt. She also established Queenstar Media, a digital media and community-based platform amplifying the work of global leaders in Education, Health, and Technology. Akrong's dedication to education and equity has been recognized through several accolades, including her selection as a 2016 Center for American Progress Leadership Institute Fellow and a 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival Fellow and Speaker. Her academic background includes a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a Master's in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania.