Every work day is a busy day for Gina F. Adams, which makes lunch on this particular Friday a welcomed diversion. It’s even more special because Adams is meeting for the first time with a first-year student at Howard University’s School of Law.
The aspiring lawyer is a recipient of a scholarship named in honor of Adams, who made a donation to establish the fund in 2016. Like Adams, the student attended Washington, D.C. public schools and then sought a law school education at Howard.
Adams’ career trajectory has taken her from lawyer to government official to corporate executive – now Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, the top lobbyist at FedEx Corporation. And she gives much of the credit for her success to the “fantastic” experience of Howard law school.
“To have a group of teachers and students who looked like me and shared the same kinds of experiences gave me a sense of confidence and support that was important as I moved through my legal career,” says Adams. “And so, Howard is a very special place for me. I had a rich experience, which is why I’m committed to supporting the students there and giving back.”
The Howard scholarship isn’t Adams’ only tie to helping students pay for higher education. The American Association of Airport Executives announced in May that it will expand its Women in Aviation Scholarship program next year by creating two permanently endowed scholarships in honor of Adams and Trish Gilbert, executive vice president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Growing up as a native Washingtonian, Adams lived in various neighborhoods in the district before graduating from Ballou Senior High School. She was influenced and inspired by a mother who possessed a tireless work ethic, a father who taught her “confidence and perspective, graced with a sense of humor” and a grandmother who imparted faith and resilience.
Adams earned a bachelor’s degree from the School of Public Affairs at American University before going on to Howard for her juris doctor. She later earned an LL.M. degree in international and comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center.
