Akin was invited as the “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Speaker” for a symposium hosted by his alma mater, University of Michigan

Akin presented a seminar at the 42nd Annual Pharmacological Sciences and Bio-Related Chemistry Symposium hosted by The University of Michigan's Pharmacological Sciences Training Program on March 28, 2025. He was joined by fellow UCSF faculty member, Brian Stoitchet, PhD, Co-Vice Dean of Graduate Pharmacy Education Programs in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, who gave the keynote presentation.

His presentation was titled A diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) approach to advancing precision medicine and addressed how incorporating DEI principles can enhance research discovery for precision medicine.