Shelby Adams

Congressional Fellow

Discipline: Cannabis

Shelby Adams is a social and community advocate from Lorton, Virginia, committed to advancing equity through research, advocacy, and public service. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, Law, and Society and a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University (GMU). Her work has focused on addressing racial disparities in the criminal legal system by identifying policy solutions that promote fairness and equity. At the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia, she examined sentencing disparities and cannabis-related incarceration, producing analysis that underscored systemic inequities and informed advocacy efforts. In 2021, she also served on the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Justice Advisory Council, contributing to local reforms and strengthening community trust. 

Beyond her policy research, Adams has used leadership as a platform for advocacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was elected Student Body President at GMU, representing more than 35,000 students while co-chairing the Student Voice Committee for the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force. She also led GMU’s NAACP chapter, advancing civic engagement and racial justice initiatives. Nationally, Adams served in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence during the Biden-Harris Administration, ensuring diverse constituent voices were heard, and later joined the Harris-Walz Campaign as a Political Coalitions Intern. Most recently, she supported diversity, equity, and inclusion programming at GMU’s Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment. Now, as a Congressional Fellow, Adams is deepening her understanding of federal policymaking while fueling her long-term commitment to advancing racial, social, and economic justice. She aspires to build a career shaping policy that is informed, intersectional, and rooted in community voices.