In December of 2019, Dr. Joseph Shields retired from his active faculty position at the National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS), after more than 40 years of service to the school and the Catholic University of America.
He has served as a role model for collaboration and creating an environment that promoted the mission of NCSSS “to educate students from diverse faiths and cultures who in their professional endeavors will embody the values of social justice, service, and scholarship. This mission is grounded in the justice and charity foundation of Catholic social teachings and the tradition of a modern university that welcomes all forms of human inquiry.”
Dr. Shields earned his Bachelors, Master, and Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the Catholic University of America and joined the NCSSS at the Catholic University of America as an instructor in 1978 and as an Assistant Professor of Social Work in 1985. In 2012, he was promoted to the rank of Ordinary Professor in recognition of his scholarship and service to NCSSS and the University.
During his tenure, Dr. Shields taught in both the masters and doctoral programs at the National Catholic School of Social Service. He developed courses in social theory, theories of organization and administration, and many of research and evaluation courses for both master and doctoral students. Dr. Shields has also directed 35 dissertations and served as a reader on more than thirty dissertations. In 2004, He co-founded and co-directed the Center for the Promotion of Health and Mental Health Research at NCSSS. Dr. Shields also has held joint appointments at the Catholic University of America and at the Department of Health and Human Services including as a Research Associate with the Institute of Social Justice and as an Associate Member of the Life Cycle Institute. Externally, he has also held appointments as a Research Associate and Director of Research at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. He has also held several multi-year part-time appointments with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Dr. Shields has a long history of service both within NCSSS and to the University including serving as the Assistant Dean and Ph.D. program chair from 1996 to 2000 and from 2016 through December of this year. He has also served as the acting chair for the MSW program and as the coordinator for the MSW Part-Time Program and summer programs. He also served as a Representative to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, as the Profession Schools Representative, as a member of the Academic Senate, as a representative to the Task Force on Graduate Education for Middle States Accreditation, and as a member of the President’s Task Force on Sponsored Research. Additionally, Dr. Shields often served as a consultant on research and evaluation projects across the University.
Dr. Shields is a recognized expert in the areas of organizational research, the intersection of religiosity on health, social measurement, and strategic planning. His primary areas of scholarly interest include the impact of religiosity on health and behavioral health, adolescents and social integration, and the impact of the organization and management of substance use treatment services on health outcomes. Dr. Shields’ scholarly productivity is notable and significant. He is the author of more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, 8 book chapters, and monographs, and 9 research monographs on topics including but not limited to, the Changing Attitudes of American Priests and the Future Roles and Functions of Catholic Laity, the Prevention of Drug Use among Adolescents, Substance Use Treatment with Substance Using Offenders, and Advances in Substance use Health Services Research. He has also presented nationally and internationally on a range of topics including Substance Use Treatment and Organizational Factors Associated with the Use of Evidence-Based Practices, Evaluation, the Impact of Attitudes towards HIV Patients on Treatment Outcomes, and the Role of Research in Pastoral Planning.
Dean Jo Ann Regan noted that Dr. Shields has demonstrated significant commitments to NCSSS, the University, and the profession of social work. Since his retirement from his teaching and administrative duties, he has remained affiliated with NCSSS where he and Dr. Delany continue to develop research projects through the Center for the Promotion of Health and Mental Health Well-Being and publish their research. We are so grateful for Dr. Shield’s long commitment, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the teaching, research, and service mission of the Catholic University of America and the National Catholic School of Social Service! Dr. Shields exemplifies everything our school and university stand for and we all benefit from his keen perspectives, wisdom, and mentorship he provides to so many of us.