Staff Profile: Elizabeth Adams

With over 14 years of progressive experience at the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS), Elizabeth is a skilled leader in archival management, community engagement, data stewardship, and strategic communications. As the Engagement Division Director, Elizabeth spearheads innovative initiatives to expand access to KGS’s archival collections, foster meaningful community and academic partnerships, and enhance internal professional development across the organization. Previously, she held various roles at KGS, including Research Administrative Coordinator and Program Coordinator, where she led multidisciplinary working groups focused on digital data curation and developed data and collection management policies critical to long-term sustainability. With a strong foundation in program and project management, Elizabeth has also served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on multiple federally funded grants, particularly through the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program, the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Her leadership has directly supported enhanced public access to geological records, the digital transformation of legacy data, and the professional development of student researchers. Beyond her work with KGS, Elizabeth has made significant contributions to the nonprofit sector. At Best Friends Animal Society, they focused on volunteer coordination, data analysis, and legislative research related to animal welfare. Additionally, Elizabeth served as the president of Spay Our Strays (SOS), where they coordinated schedules for trap-neuter-return (TNR) clinics and kitten foster programs, managed public engagement, and facilitated partnerships with aligned organizations. Furthermore, as Vice President of Make A Difference Now (MADN), Elizabeth played a key role in planning educational conferences and workshops, overseeing agenda development, coordinating speakers, managing logistics, and handling publicity. Recognized for her ability to bridge technical expertise with public-facing communication, Elizabeth brings a collaborative, mission-driven approach to every initiative, making geoscience information more accessible and impactful for Kentucky and beyond.