Office of the Provost

Announcement

August 5, 2002

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce that Dr. William Shields has accepted my offer to become the Interim President of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford effective September 1, 2002. Dr. Shields completed his undergraduate studies at Carroll College, and earned his master's and doctoral degrees in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh.

He had a highly successful ten years’ tenure as President of Rockford College, in Rockford, Illinois, where he has been acclaimed for the success with which he has built positive and cooperative relationships with the internal and external communities. Dr. Shields also completed the largest capital campaign in that college’s long history. At commencement exercises in June, Dr. Shields was named President Emeritus by the Rockford College Board of Trustees. Previous to his appointment at Rockford College, he had served fifteen years as President of the College of Great Falls in Great Falls, Montana.

During his distinguished career, Dr. Shields has been a strong community leader. He received the Outstanding Community Service Award while President of the College of Great Falls. At Rockford, Dr. Shields has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rockford Health Council, as chair of the Greater Rockford Council of 100 and as vice chair of the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities. He currently serves as a Senior Consultant to the Council of Independent Colleges.

Dr. Shields and his wife, Judy, have four grown children and a grandson.

I have great confidence that Dr. Shields will provide thoughtful academic leadership to the Campus while the search for a new President continues this year. He possesses the necessary experience, wisdom, and integrity to build on the Bradford Campus’s strengths and priorities. I look forward to helping Dr. Shields and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford community identify academic opportunities and work toward our shared goal of excellence.

Sincerely,

James V. Maher

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