Joshua Akers, Ph.D. Director Joshua Akers, Ph.D., is a director in Research, Learning, and Evaluation for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he provides leadership for developing and improving operations for all research-related initiatives to facilitate research and knowledge generation. Dr. Akers will place special emphasis on actionable and practical research that can inform policy and programmatic strategies for the Foundation and the communities it serves. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Akers served research manager with at the Mid-America Regional Council in Kansas City, Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of New Mexico and earned his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Toronto.