She earned her PhD in Education with an emphasis in Professional Studies from Capella University, a MT in Early Childhood/Elementary Education at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a BA in Economics at the College of William and Mary. She had initially begun a career in the private sector as a financial analyst before realizing her calling to education. For seven years, Dr. Adkins worked in the public school system as an elementary school teacher and mathematics coach before embarking on a career in higher education, instructing and mentoring future teachers.