Education...

I am a research focused psychologist with a generalist background. I am completing coursework towards a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Regent University, and am an alumnus of Nova Southeastern University (M.S in General Psychology- 2016) and the University of Mount Olive (B.S in Psychology- 2014). 

The Big City...

I am from Glasgow Scotland. I have been in the United States since 2009 when I moved to Davis & Elkins College in West Virgina, before eventually finding my way to North Carolina and the pickle capital of the world - Mount Olive!

Behind every great man...

The saying could not be any more true... There is a great woman!
I met my wonderful wife, Mahala, while attending UMO. It took us a while to realizing the inevitable, but we haven't looked back since. She is an incredibly hard working and caring individual - that's probably why she is such a good nurse!
She has supported me through all of my endeavors and is the main reason that I managed to push through the difficult times.

The Family...

It seems like a pretty obvious and generic statement, but I would never be here if it was not for the support of my family. My mother and father, Margaret & Martin, are living examples of the what it means to sacrifice for your children. They have worked demanding jobs with long and hard hours to ensure that my brother, Colin, and I have had the opportunity to pursue our dreams. Speaking of Colin, he is professional ice-hockey player and business owner (Total Performance Fitness) who also came to the U.S and attended the University of Maine. Neither of us would be where we are not without our parents support. 

Personal Interests...

My personal interests include golf, ice-hockey, and learning! I originally came to the U.S to play golf in college and even worked at the country club for a little while before returning to academia. Being a member of the Shields family requires that you like ice-hockey. My father was a professional, but brother still is (they even have a book about them).  I was a pretty decent goalie until I moved to the U.S and have recently tried to get back in to the sport, though I have learned that the body is not as flexible as it used to be!

I would have to say that my main passion is learning. I was not the greatest student in high school or at the beginning of college - my teachers at Belmont House School are still shocked that I went into teaching! - but I eventually realized that I was capable of good grades (though it took a while to have that epiphany). Since then, I have thrown myself in to the world of academia, pursuing graduate education, conducting original research, and passing on my experiences and knowledge through teaching.