For Sylvia Trent-Adams, education has been at the forefront of her efforts during 2020 and 2021. She has led initiatives educating Texans about COVID-19 and the vaccines that provide protection; teaching young people about the opportunities in STEM careers, and advising professionals on pathways to success.

It has been a multi-faceted time for Trent-Adams, who was recognized as Women of Color’s Technologist of the Year in 2020. “It has been quite an amazing experience,” said Trent-Adams, who said she was humbled by the honor.

Trent-Adams is the senior vice president and chief strategy officer at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX. In this role, she assists the president in developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives.

Trent-Adams began her extensive public health career in 1992 by joining the Commissioned Corps before ultimately retiring in 2020 from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps with the rank of rear admiral upper half.

Serving as Technologist of the Year during a pandemic meant far less travel and more virtual experiences, but Trent-Adams said she still was able to share her message of the importance of inclusion and diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as well as expanding her network.

She said she was heartened to learn of the many women doing “amazing work” in STEM fields across the country. Trent-Adams said she participated in plenty of Zoom and Teams meetings, conferences, roundtable discussions, and gave keynote speeches on subjects such as diversity, inclusion, and leadership.

During many of her encounters, students repeatedly asked her how they could follow her career path, and professional women and faculty members inquired about how to juggle various responsibilities on the job, handle competitiveness, and maintain a good work/life balance.

“If you feel you are not being valued, take your gifts somewhere else,” she said. Trent-Adams, who has a Ph.D. in public policy with a health concentration and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, has served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for health with the United States Public Health Service.

Throughout her career, she has focused on improving access to care for poor and underserved communities. As both a clinician and administrator, she has made a direct impact on building systems of care to improve public health for marginalized populations domestically and internationally. She continued this work during her time as the deputy surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps from 2015 to 2018.

In this role, Trent-Adams was a trusted advisor to the surgeon general, providing support on a variety of critical issues, including efforts to combat the opioid crisis and the operations of the Commissioned Corps. Trent-Adams also stressed the importance of women creating their “own pathway to success” and building their base of support.

Cultivating mentors early in one’s career is vital, she said. “It’s lonely at the top,” Trent-Adams said. She also advised those who are on their way up to do succession planning and groom their successor to take over the reins when they move on to the next position. As for the next Women of Color Technologist of the Year, Trent-Adams offers this advice: “Use every opportunity to use the platform to support and encourage the future for STEM careers…and inspire the next generation.”