Hello! I’m Carolyn Adams, a New York City-based Programs and Engagement professional with 10+ years of experience connecting people, ideas, and institutions through public-facing programming, storytelling, and community-centered initiatives.

My work sits at the intersection of public programs, audience engagement, and narrative strategy, supporting mission-driven organizations across media, education, culture, and social impact. 

I’ve shaped and supported programs and content for institutions including New York Public Radio, Columbia University in the City of New York, and the CUNY Graduate Center — working across teams to elevate diverse voices, curate conversations, and translate institutional goals into meaningful content and experiences.

While my background is rooted in storytelling, my core strength is making connections: bringing together people, perspectives, and ideas into programs that invite participation and foster learning. I’m especially drawn to work that supports creative professionals, emerging leaders, and communities navigating education, work, and identity.

In addition to full-time roles, I’m interested in hosting and shaping small-scale public conversations around career paths and creative work, and I stay engaged in youth-focused career exposure efforts through volunteer programming in New York City.

My creative practice — including photography, writing, and long-form narrative projects — continues to inform how I approach programs and engagement, even when it lives outside my day-to-day work. I believe deeply in the power of story, not as content for its own sake, but as a tool for access, clarity, and connection.

I hold a Master’s degree in Journalism and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications/Media Studies with minors in Anthropology and Studio Art, along with certifications in women’s entrepreneurship, social media marketing, and coaching.

A proud third-generation New Yorker, I’m endlessly curious about this city, its people, and the spaces where culture, work, and community meet.