The Worldwide Women’s Association Recognizes Vickie Shields

Vickie Rutledge Shields, Ph.D. is an accomplished executive coach, higher education leader, consultant, researcher, and author with more than three decades of experience guiding organizational transformation, leadership development, and academic excellence. As the founder of Transformative Strategies Coaching, LLC, she partners with women professionals to help them navigate pivotal career transitions, strengthen executive presence, and achieve meaningful personal and professional growth. Dr. Shields has recently been featured in Woman’s World, Valiant CEO, and Wellness Voice.

Vickie also works with corporations, nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions to enhance executive leadership, strengthen team effectiveness, facilitate strategic planning, and improve workplace culture through proven personality and work-style assessment tools.

Prior to launching her coaching and consulting practice, Dr. Shields built an exemplary career in higher education leadership. She served as Provost and Executive Vice President of Nevada State University from 2017 to 2023, where she provided strategic leadership during a period of institutional growth and innovation. Previously, she was Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Social Work at Eastern Washington University, Associate Dean of Faculty and Curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowling Green State University, and Director of the Women’s Studies Program at Bowling Green State University. Throughout her administrative career, she championed academic excellence, faculty development, student success, shared governance, and organizational effectiveness.

An accomplished scholar, Dr. Shields has made significant contributions to the fields of communication, media studies, gender studies, and visual literacy. She is the author of Measuring Up: How Advertising Affects Self-Image, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press, and her research on gender representation, media literacy, visual communication, and feminist methodology has been widely cited in leading academic journals. Her work has helped shape scholarly conversations surrounding media influence, identity, and communication across multiple disciplines.

Dr. Shields earned her Ph.D. and Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Boise State University. She further expanded her leadership expertise through Harvard University’s Management Development Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, completed training through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, and became a certified Life Coach through the International Association of Professions Career College.

Her distinguished career has been recognized with numerous honors. In 2023, Nevada State University dedicated the Dr. Vickie Rutledge Shields Quiet Room in her honor in recognition of her advocacy and enduring support of the university library. She also received Nevada State University’s prestigious Scorpion Outstanding Unit Trophy, the ICONIC Woman of Distinction Award for Education from the National Association of Women Business Owners (Southern Nevada Chapter), and the Outstanding Alumna Award from Boise State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. In addition, she served as President of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, elected by its national membership, reflecting the respect she has earned among academic leaders nationwide.

Today, Dr. Shields combines her executive leadership experience, scholarly expertise, and passion for empowering others to help individuals and organizations realize their full potential. Through executive coaching, leadership development, and strategic consulting, she equips clients with the insight, confidence, and practical strategies needed to lead with authenticity, navigate change successfully, and create lasting impact. She is also a proud member of The Registry.

Worldwide Women’s Association member Vickie Shields can be found on the directory where she is looking forward to networking with you.