Carolyn Adams is a Professor in the Department of Geography and Urban Planning at Temple University. She has been a member of the Temple faculty for over 30 years, teaching courses in urban development, city problems, and policies to address those problems.
Dr. Adams has authored numerous articles and books including many publications about Philadelphia. Adams and several Temple colleagues established the Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project to create a set of social, environmental, and economic indicators that track important trends in the region, particularly indicators portraying the quality of life in local communities. In fall 2014 she published From the Outside In (Cornell University Press), a book that analyzes the role that suburban elites have played in reshaping central Philadelphia.
In addition to teaching and research, Adams consults with non-profit organizations on issues ranging from community development to education and human services. She has served on the board of directors of the William Penn Foundation and the board of trustees of Moore College of Art and Design; was co-founder of Campus Philly; and served three years as President of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, on whose board she still sits.
While at Temple University, Dr. Adams has held a number of leadership positions including Chair of the Department of Geography and Urban Studies, President of the University FacultySenate, and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.