Dr. Paul Adams

Dr. Paul S. Adams '77 has nearly 40 years of experience at Wilkes University, having served in various roles in student and academic affairs since 1979. Most recently, Adams served as Vice President of Student Affairs before retiring in the summer of 2022.

As Vice President of Student Affairs, Adams oversees all aspects of student life including athletics, health and wellness, residence life and judicial affairs. He also oversees student development, which includes career development and internships, student activities, campus interfaith, community service, e-mentoring and orientation.

As Accreditation Liaison Officer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Adams co-chaired the University's 2020 Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee through Aug. 1, 2019. He also chaired the Periodic Review Report Committee in 2015 and co-chaired the University's Decennial Self Study in 2010. He previously chaired the University's Mentoring Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. Adams previously served as the director of residence life, dean of academic support services, dean of student affairs and university college and interim vice president for development. He has been a member of the board of directors of Luzerne County Head Start, the United Way of Wyoming Valley, the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA and was a member of the executive committee for Diamond City Partnership. He is a trustee of the James Sutton Home.

Adams received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Education from Wilkes. He earned his PhD in Organizational Leadership and Curriculum Instruction from the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of Harvard University's Institute for the Management of Lifelong Education. In 2011, Adams was named a Distinguished Graduate of Binghamton City School District.

Adams has studied or served under five of Wilkes University's six presidents. He and his wife, Jean '78, have two daughters, Caroline and Lindsay.