Alma Shealey Adams (born May 27, 1946) is an American educator and Democratic politician who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina's 12th congressional district. A long-time resident of Greensboro, she came to national office after two decades in the North Carolina General Assembly. In Congress she is known both for her legislative interests in education, community development, and the arts, and for a widely publicized personal style centered on an extensive collection of hats.

Early career and state service

Before running for federal office, Adams built a career in higher education as an art professor and college administrator in North Carolina. She was appointed to the North Carolina House of Representatives in April 1994 and then repeatedly elected to represent the 58th House district in Guilford County. Over the course of her state legislative tenure she developed a reputation as a pragmatic lawmaker with an emphasis on education, workforce opportunity, and cultural programs. When she left the state legislature to join Congress, her seat in Raleigh was filled by Ralph C. Johnson.

Election to Congress and national role

Adams won a special election in 2014 to fill the vacancy created when the district's previous congressman resigned to accept a federal appointment. Her victory made her one of the women serving in the 113th Congress; she was widely noted as the 100th woman to sit in that session. She also prevailed in the concurrent regular election and began serving a full term. Since arriving in Washington she has continued to highlight priorities familiar from her state work: strengthening public education, supporting minority-serving institutions, expanding access to healthcare and economic development, and advocating for the arts and community organizations.

Adams' style and visibility extend beyond policy. She attracts attention for a large and well-known collection of hats that she often wears at public events and on the House floor. The hats are part of a public persona she uses to connect with constituents and to celebrate cultural traditions; several profiles and interviews have explored that aspect of her image and public outreach. For more on her congressional biography see her official profile here, and for features on her hats see this profile about her distinctive wardrobe.

Throughout her career Adams has been active in issues that affect historically underserved communities, including support for historically black colleges and universities and for programs that expand educational and economic opportunity. Her background in art and education has made cultural institutions and arts funding recurring themes in her public statements and legislative work.

  • Long-time educator and college administrator prior to elected office.
  • North Carolina state representative from 1994 until election to Congress in 2014.
  • Elected to the U.S. House in a 2014 special election and also won a full term that year.
  • Known for advocacy in education, the arts, and community development, and for an extensive hat collection.

As a member of Congress, Adams combines constituency service with legislative work intended to support education, health, and economic opportunity in her district and beyond. Her path from classroom and campus administration to long state service and then to the federal level illustrates a career grounded in local institutions and cultural engagement, with a personal style that has made her a recognizable figure both in North Carolina and in Washington.