Akea joined the placement team as a Placement Specialist in 2022. Prior to this role, she has supported Laspau's scholarship operations as both a Program Assistant and an Application Technician. Akea obtained her B.S. in Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Prior to her work at Laspau, Akea worked with the National Park Service as an Environmental Youth Education Coordinator where she managed and supported multiple youth education programs within the Boston area. She strongly believes in the importance of equitable access to higher education and international, cross-cultural exchange.