Dr. Akins is employed by Florida A&M University as the Executive Director of Title III Programs since January 2020, prior to becoming Executive Director, Dr. Akins served as the Director of Title III Programs and Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas. He has served as Director of the Grants and Contracts Department before joining St. Philip’s College in 2009.  He has taught grant-writing courses at St. Philip’s College for the Continuing Education Department. He is also a Lecturer with the University of Texas at Austin teaching urban-related courses in Geography and the Environment Department to undergraduate students majoring in Urban Studies. Dr. Akins has serves as a Lecturer for the University of Texas at San Antonio in the Public Administration Program teaching graduate courses to students majoring in public administration.

Dr. Akins has over 30 years of combined experience in contracts, grants and program management working for local government, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher learning. Dr. Akins has life memberships in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education. He is a sustaining member of Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity. He earned his Ph.D. in Human Services from Capella University, his M.A. in Urban Studies from Trinity University and his Bachelor in Music Education from Southern University. Erick is a native of Chicago, Illinois and has resided in San Antonio, Texas for the past 32 years.