At the 2026 York College Commencement, President Claudia V. Schrader will present an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to distinguished former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
The first Black person to serve as speaker of the New York City Council, Adams began her college education at York College before transferring to Spelman College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Elected Speaker in January 2022, Adams led the most diverse and first women-majority Council in New York City history. First elected to the City Council in 2017, she became the first woman to represent District 28 in Queens, which includes Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, and South Ozone Park. During her tenure, she championed policies addressing long-standing inequities across New York City.
Under her leadership, the Council advanced major women’s health initiatives to reduce racial disparities in maternal healthcare and expand access to reproductive services. She also expanded support for crime victims in underserved communities by creating a $5.1 million neighborhood-based community safety and victim services initiative and securing funding for New York State’s first Trauma Recovery Centers.
Adams prioritized workforce equity, supporting legislation to increase diversity within the FDNY and address race- and gender-based pay disparities among municipal employees. She also helped establish the CUNY Reconnect initiative, which has enabled thousands of working-age New Yorkers to return to college and complete degrees.
Her leadership also helped shape the city’s response to the housing crisis. In 2022, the Council approved more than 40 land-use projects projected to create over 12,000 housing units, of which more than 63 percent are affordable.
Before entering public service, Adams worked as a corporate trainer for several Fortune 500 companies and as a child development associate instructor.
May 19, 2026 8:00 AM