Heather Adams

Senior Program Manager at the College Excellence Program

Aspen Institute
Heather Adams

Heather Adams is a senior program manager at the College Excellence Program (CEP), leading the development of transfer initiatives. Prior to joining CEP, Heather served as the director of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Transfer Student Center and director of UCLA College Learning Communities.

Heather’s work has centered on generating institutionalized receptivity, support, and policy restructuring for underserved student communities through strategic partnership and practice. She advocated for the establishment of the UCLA Transfer Center and transformed a program serving 300 students annually to a thriving and collaborative campus center that provides resources and support to over 27,000 transfer students each year.

A proud community college transfer student, Heather earned an Associate of Arts in psychology from Santa Monica College (CA) and transferred to UCLA, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Doctorate of Education in educational leadership.