The "Clear One"
Adisa means the "the clear one" in the Yoruba language of Nigeria. Our name highlights our core truths and guiding principles. We want to bring transparency and trust in the college financial planning journey and provide exceptional support along the way.
Our Guiding Principles
Our core truths:
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Every student is equipped with a unique set of skills and strengths that can be fostered in different post-secondary pathways
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We cannot insist, we only recommend. Our role is to help guide students and families by providing affordability and financial advice in their college planning journey
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Not every student or family has a post-secondary plan. Our goal is to provide our clients with options, encourage their self advocacy skills, and prepare for a bright future
Our Team
The "Clear One"
Adisa means the "the clear one" in the Yoruba language of Nigeria. Our name highlights our core truths and guiding principles. We want to bring transparency and trust in the college financial planning journey and provide exceptional support along the way.
Our Guiding Principles
-
Every student regardless of age is equipped with a unique set of skills and strengths that can be fostered in different post-secondary pathways
-
We cannot insist, we only recommend. Our role is to help guide students and families by providing affordability and financial advice in the college planning journey
-
Not every student or family has a post-secondary plan. Our goal is to provide our clients with options, encourage self advocacy skills, and prepare for a bright future
Our Why
With over twenty years of combined experience in the education and financial sector, we realized that many families face an information gap despite their best efforts to help prepare students for postsecondary success. Our team is comprised of first-generation or immigrant college graduates who know firsthand the challenges families face when looking for financial planning information to fund education. We realize that there is still a scarcity of organizations focused on direct support in the college financial planning journey. Adisa Advising aims to be the solution to solve the problem of inequitable access to higher education.
Our Team
Queenstar Akrong
CEO & Founder
What's Your Why?: I created Adisa Advising because I don’t want any student to go through what I went through in school. I want students to not only survive when they get to school, but have the option to thrive. College is such a critical time and I think it is important for every student to have as little financial stress as possible and to fully enjoy the college experience.
Career Highlights: I've worked in college and career access for over a decade and my dedication to entrepreneurship has been featured on CNN. I was recently awarded a Penn-Wharton Innovation Fund grant from the University of Pennsylvania and the Outstanding Recent Graduate Award from my undergraduate alma mater.
Education: I earned my B.A in International Affairs and Political Science from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a Masters in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania
Lindsey Barclay
Strategic Initiatives Advisor
What's Your Why?: I joined the Adisa Advising team because after over 15 years in college advising, I realized that families continue to feel overwhelmed with the financial obligations that a college education requires. Families have a right to be empowered and supported through this critical time.
Career Highlights: Currently, I serve as the Director of Virtual Advising & Infrastructure at College Tracks, where I provide strategic and data-driven direction to a team of college access professionals serving high school juniors and seniors. Prior to this role, I served as the Member Services Manager at the National College Access Network. I also have experience in residence life and student affairs at several universities.
Education: I earned my master's degree in applied sociology and bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology and sociology, both from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Gina Quartey
Adult Learning Advisor
What's Your Why?: Most college support organizations focus only on traditional students without factoring adult learners. My role is to help Adisa Advising support adult learners and also provide holistic parent advising.
Career Highlights: I've been an Educator for over twenty years. I've provided counseling services to many families on early childhood development and college support. I have founded over five student and family non-profit organizations .
Education: I received my Associate's from Frederick Community College and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Hood College. I am currently pursuing a Master's in Educational Leadership at Notre Dame of Maryland University.
Allswell Akrong
Strategic Advisor
What's Your Why?: I joined the Adisa Advising team because I believe early financial awareness is a missing link in most college application resources.
Career Highlights: I have multiple years of experience in financial analysis and strategy
Education: I received my B.S in Economics & Statistics from the University of Maryland, College Park.