d-mars.com Top 30 Influential Women of Houston
Wanda Adams
Board of Education First Vice-President & District IX Trustee, Houston Independent School District she is a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness. Among the organizations for which she volunteers are the Houston Area Women’s Center, YMCA, YWCA, Keep Houston Beautiful, and Meals on Wheels in the Sunnyside community. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Adams had the honor of being appointed to national committees, including the Social Action Commission and the National/Regional Housing Task Force. She also serves as a trustee for the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and she is a member of Leadership Houston Class 30. Awards & Recognition: • Houston Woman Magazine’s Top 50 Women in Houston • Houston Area Association for the Education of Young Children’s Elected Official of the Year • RollingOut.com’s Top 25 Women • Award of Distinction from the National Forum of Black Public Accountants
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anda Adams was elected to the HISD Board of Education in 2013 after serving the limit of three two-year terms as Houston City Councilmember for District D. Adams’ commitment as a Board of Education Trustee is to continue to incorporate strong literacy programs, strengthen parent and community engagement, and decrease the number of low-performing schools in District IX. Adams is a native Houstonian and product of HISD, graduating as a basketball standout from Kashmere High School. She received an athletic scholarship to Texas Southern University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She has had a long career in public ser-
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Top 30 Influential Women of Houston 2016
Adams also partnered with KRIV Fox 26 on a television news special, “Diversity vice for organizations and agencies in- in the Classroom,” at Westbury High cluding the Houston Housing Authority, School. The program won a 2015 Lone Harris County Mental Health and Mental Star Emmy Award. Retardation Association, and the Mayor’s Adams is a Sunday school teacher and Assistance Office. She recently served on international missionary for the Founthe NCAA Final Four Sustainability Comtain of Praise church, through which she mittee and is currently participating on participated in a mission to Cape Town, the Super Bowl LI Sustainability CommitSouth Africa, in 2013. tee. Adams is also a history maker, being the first African-American woman to be appointed to serve on the Harris County Wanda Adams Board of Education Appraisal District Board of Directors. First Vice-President District IX Trustee Houston Independent School District 4400 West 18th Street Houston, TX 77092-8501 As a public servant, Adams has been com- 713-556-6000 mitted to support for the homeless, vet- wadams2@houstonisd.org erans, the disabled, and mentally ill, and www.houstonisd.org
The HISD trustee has traveled throughout the world – Africa, Europe, and South America – as an international ambassador for the City of Houston.
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