Before joining LaGuardia, President Adams was dean of workforce and economic development at Bronx Community College/CUNY.
Prior to joining CUNY, President Adams spent more than 20 years leading economic and workforce development organizations in New York State. He served as acting commissioner of the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, president and CEO of Empire State Development, and commissioner of the NYS Department of Economic Development.
He previously led the Business Council of New York State and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. He was also the founding executive director of New York Cares.
President Adams serves as chairman of the boards of directors of New York State’s affordable housing agencies, including the Housing Finance Agency, the State of New York Mortgage Agency, and the Housing Trust Fund Corporation.
He is a director of Opportunity America, the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Long Island City Partnership, and the Research Foundation of CUNY. He has served on boards, commissions, councils, and advisory groups on behalf of five governors and two mayors.
President Adams received BA and MA degrees and an Ed.D. honoris causa from Middlebury College. He lives with his family in Brooklyn.