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Kentucky State University will reap the benefits of a highly experienced chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration. 

Dr. Gerald D. Shields recently began in the role, as previous chief financial officer and vice president of administration Gregory Rush returned to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. 

“I have a career passion for developing and executing organizational plans and operational goals to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” Shields said. “Kentucky State University has a rich and diverse history that has impacted many facets of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and it deserves the best opportunities to thrive.”   

Shields has served in chief financial officer and vice president roles at Wiley College, Texas College, Talladega College, Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College, New River Community & Technical College, Clark State Community College and as the business director of the Colin Powell Academy. 

Outside of higher education, Shields has served as vice president and chief financial officer for Century National Bank in Jacksonville, Florida; district sales manager for Society Bank and Trust Company in Dayton, Ohio; and as an operation consultant for AFS Management in Dayton, Ohio. 

Before retiring, Shields achieved the rank of major as a member of the Army National Guard Ready Reserve. His military education includes Command and General Staff college; Ohio Military Academy for Officers; Ohio Military Academy for Non-Commissioned Officers; engineer officer certification; ordinance officer certification; transportation officer certification; and armor officer certification. 

Shields earned a Bachelor of Science in financial management from California Miramar University (formerly Pacific Western University) and a Ph.D. in ethics and creative leadership with a secondary concentration in public policy in social change from Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

An active member in service organizations, Shields has served as a board member and treasurer of the Dayton Public Schools Foundation; division liaison of the Dayton Urban League and the United Way of Greater Dayton; chairman of the Ohio Bursar Association; president of the Ohio Association of College and University Business Officers; president of the Galileo STEM Preparatory Academy; and a member of the American Legion. 

“My goal in coming to this campus is to provide leadership to the community in matters of finance and business operations so that it may continue to thrive,” Shields said.