[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. ROBERT ADAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career 
and legacy of Dr. Robert ``Bobby'' Adams. A career counselor and 
administrator, Dr. Adams has made a lasting contribution to the 
education of generations of college students in Los Angeles and the Bay 
Area.
  Dr. Adams attended Los Angeles City College and Philander Smith 
College in Little Rock, Arkansas before receiving his bachelor's Degree 
in psychology from Loyola Marymount University, a Master of Education 
from the University of Southern California, and a Doctorate in 
Education Management from Pepperdine University.
  After the completion of his education, Dr. Adams worked as a 
counselor and administrator at Santa Monica College (SMC) for 33 years. 
He began his professional career at SMC in 1974, serving as a counselor 
in outreach and the Extended Opportunities Program and Service (EOPS). 
He also served as Counseling Department Chair from 1981 to 1986, was 
Dean of Student Life from 1986 to 1996, and Associate Vice President of 
Student Affairs from 1996 to 1998. Prior to his retirement from SMC in 
2007, Dr. Adams served for several years as the Vice President of 
Student Affairs.
  After he left Santa Monica College in 2007, Dr. Adams was hired as 
the President of Merritt College in Oakland where he served until his 
retirement in 2012.
  While at Merritt College, Dr. Adams established the Maximum 
Achievement Project (MAP), which was visited and recognized by United 
States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Through the MAP program, 
Merritt increased its retention and graduation rates for students, with 
a focus on African American males. MAP students raised their GPA from 
1.5 to 3.1 in less than two years.
  During his tenure at Merritt, Dr. Adams was also instrumental in 
building a new $50 million dollar facility focused on STEM education 
that I was honored to have named the Barbara Lee Science and Allied 
Health Center.
  On a personal note, Bobby is the epitome of a citizen of the world, 
who ``thinks globally, and acts locally''. I had the privilege to 
travel to Africa with him, and was impressed by his commitment to the 
education of all students when I saw that soon after we returned he 
established a partnership to bring African students to study at the 
Peralta colleges. For that I am truly grateful.
  The Santa Monica College Foundation has now established the Dr. Bobby 
Adams Leadership Award to honor Bobby's lifetime of mentorship and 
leadership in the education field.
  On behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I join the 
family and friends of Dr. Adams as we celebrate his career and 
contributions to the education of countless young people.

                          ____________________