Tanya Adams has been promoted to VP in the Chicago office of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global engineering and professional services organization.

Adams is community relations and diversity manager for the Central U.S. region of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff. She is responsible for a variety of complex marketing, networking and business development initiatives, including implementation of regional diversity programs, client relations, public relations and community engagement. She serves as co-chair, with Martha Alongi, on WSP | Parson Brinckerhoff’s diversity committee.

She also served as recruiting manager for the Central U.S. region, where she oversaw regional recruiting and advised management and staff on issues pertaining to recruiting issues.

Prior to joining the firm in 2006,  Adams was with the Illinois Department of Transportation for 18 years as an employment specialist.

Adams is a member of the national board of directors of COMTO (Conference of Minority Transportation Officials), which named her 2016 Corporate Executive of the Year. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Illinois chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies, and she is secretary of the board of the directors of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce.

She is a member of the equal employment opportunity committee of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, the disadvantaged business enterprise committee of the Innovation Conference on Asphalt and Transportation, and the advisory committee of the Chicago Department of Family & Support Services’ One Summer Chicago program, which connects young people to summer jobs, internships and training programs being offered throughout the city.

Adams earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Chicago State University.