Cynthia Adams

Cynthia has dedicated more than 33 years to serving youth in the Oakland Unified School District, where she has been a passionate advocate for educational equity and student success.

Throughout her career, she has inspired students to envision brighter futures and connected them with programs, resources, and opportunities to achieve their goals. She led successful efforts to preserve Castlemont High School’s School-to-Work Program and library, helping ensure students continued access to valuable educational and career pathways. Her proudest achievement is helping countless students attend college through scholarships and mentorship.

A distinguished civic leader, Cynthia has served as President of the Oakland Branch NAACP, ACT-SO Chair, Education Chair, Youth Advisor, and ambassador for several college-access initiatives. Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including statewide NAACP awards, the Ford Foundation Award for Education, and recognition from Oakland Promise and the National College Resource Foundation. A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Cynthia is a proud mother and grandmother who has helped establish a three-generation legacy of attendance at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.