Neil Conrad Vaz was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Brenda Clouden (Vaz) and Albert Vaz on November 3, 1983. He grew up in Casselberry, Florida. He attended Seminole Community College in Sanford, Florida, where he received his Associate's degree in 2005. He later transferred to Florida State University where he received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 2007. In 2011, Vaz received a Master's degree in African History, and in 2016, a doctorate in African diaspora history from Howard University. Today Vaz