David Adams

David Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of The Urban Assembly. He joined the organization in 2014 as Director of Social-Emotional Learning, where he developed the Resilient Scholars Program (RSP), a pioneering approach to embedding social-emotional learning (SEL) into curriculum and classroom practice across the UA network and nationally. David serves on the boards of EL and AEP and previously served on the board of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). He is a member of Teach For America’s SEL Advisory Board, the Leader in Me Curriculum Advisory Board, and advisory boards for The Wellness Classroom and Promoting Health in Haiti. He also serves on strategic advisory groups for Harmony at National University and is an editorial board member for Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy. David’s leadership has been recognized with honors including Crain’s 40 Under 40, a citation from the Mayor of New York City, the Change Agent Award from the Gentlemen’s Factory, the Inspiring Educators for Life Award from Read718, and the Champion of Equity Award from the American Consortium for Equity in Education. A co-founder of International SEL Day, David is the author of The Educator’s Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence and a contributor to Challenges to Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs in Organizations. He has published extensively on SEL and retired as a Civil Affairs Officer in the Army Reserve.