Adler taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz prior to joining the faculty of UCSF. In 1980, she served a term as the President of Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology (APA Division 34).[16] Adler has chaired multiple NAM committees and workshops on subjects including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,[17] sexually transmitted diseases,[18] psychosocial treatments for cancer patients, and women's health.[19]