James A. Shields of Winston-Salem was recently sworn in as a member of the University of North Carolina at Asheville's Board of Trustees. Shields, who currently manages a private investment fund, founded, and for 10 years managed, the third largest speciality lighting distributor for General Electric Lighting in North America. He was appointed to a four-year term on UNCA's board by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

A 1975 UNC Asheville graduate, Shields is pursuing graduate studies in philosophy at the University of Wales, Lampeter. He is active in civic affairs and has served as a board of directors member of the Piedmont Triad Film Commission, the Winston-Salem Personnel Association, and Youth Opportunity Homes Inc.

Shields and his wife, Betsy, have a nine-year-old son. Betsy is director of the School of Radiologic Technology at Moses Cone Health Systems in Greensboro.

Media Contacts:

• Merianne Epstein, UNCA Public Information Director,