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August 29, 2002

Interim Bradford president named

Pitt alumnus William A. Shields, president emeritus of Rockford College in Illinois and former president of the College of Great Falls in Great Falls, Mont., has been named interim president of Pitt's Bradford campus, effective Sept. 1.

From 1992 until this past May, Shields served as president of Rockford College, where he oversaw a $20 million capital campaign. He served as president of the College of Great Falls from 1977 to 1992.

"Dr. Shields is highly esteemed in Rockford for the successful, positive and cooperative relationships he built within the college and between the college and the community," said Provost James V. Maher.

Regional campus presidents report to the provost.

Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg said: "I have great confidence that Dr. Shields will provide thoughtful academic leadership to the Bradford campus while the search for a new president continues this year."

Shields earned a B.A. in sociology from Carroll College, graduating magna cum laude in 1964. He holds two degrees from Pitt, an M.A. (1966) and a Ph.D. (1972) in sociology.

During his career in higher education, Shields has been involved in community affairs. Among other positions, he served as chair of the Greater Rockford Council of 100, a community economic development organization, and of the Illinois Campus Compact, a service learning organization. He also was vice chair and secretary/treasurer of the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges. At Great Falls, he chaired the Montana Board of Natural Resources and the Economic Development Council of the Great Falls Chamber, served on the Governor's Task Force on Telecommunications, and was president of the Independent Colleges of Montana Association.

Prior to becoming president at the College of Great Falls, Shields was a professor in the sociology department there, and he served on the sociology faculty at Idaho State University for 10 years. He also has taught social sciences in Pitt's College of General Studies and sociology at Penn State's New Kensington campus.

Shields succeeds Richard E. McDowell, who is returning to teaching and research at Pitt-Bradford following a year's sabbatical.

Filed under: Feature,Volume 35 Issue 1

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