William Shields

William Shields serves as Executive Director of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) since 2014 and Adjunct Professor at American University's School of Public Affairs since 2000. At ASPA, he expanded professional development programming, strengthened 60 local chapters and 30 subject matter sections, and revitalized operations while advancing excellence in public service. He is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and serves on NIGP's governing board.

His academic credentials include:

• M.A. in Government from American University
• B.A. in Journalism (magna cum laude) from American University

Shields' research spans public administration, public policy, and non-profit management, with emphasis on government organization, public service ethics, and urban development. His work addresses federal department challenges (Defense, HUD, Transportation) including compensation systems and FBI reorganization, while extending to international contexts like Caribbean crime studies and cross-national public sector reforms.

His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent engagement with practical governance challenges, featuring analyses of public-private partnerships, post-Katrina recovery in New Orleans, Caribbean criminology, and post-election government performance. These works bridge academic theory and real-world policy implementation through interviews with global leaders and comparative reform studies.

Key recognitions include:

• 2015 School of Public Affairs Award for Outstanding Teaching in an Adjunct Position
• Election as Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration

While Shields has taught at American University since 2000, no formal advisees or doctoral students are documented in available records. His non-academic leadership includes editorial roles for Public Money and Management and International Journal of Civil Service Reform and Practice, plus governance positions at NIGP.

Shields has led National Academy of Public Administration research teams for federal departments and built ASPA's collaborative network of 90+ chapters and sections, fostering professional development across public service sectors.