Dennis J. Shields serves as the president of the Southern University System and chancellor of Southern University and A&M College.

Previously he served as chancellor for the University of Wisconsin, Platteville and spent the majority of his career advocating for better access to higher education especially those who have been historically underrepresented. 

Prior to UW Platteville, Professor Shields held administrative positions in Admissions at The University of Iowa College of Law, University of Michigan Law School, Duke University School of Law. He has also held a Deanship and a teaching position at Phoenix School of Law. After he acted as the Vice President for Student Affairs at The City College of New York. 

Shields also served as the first Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group of the National Collegiate Athletics Association for Division III, which acts as another platform that has allowed his voice to be added to the national dialogue surrounding higher education in the United States.

Read his full bio here.