Background
Shields, John Charles was born on October 29, 1944 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Son of Granville Blaine and Elizabeth Merle (Hartgraves) Shields.
Shields, John Charles was born on October 29, 1944 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Son of Granville Blaine and Elizabeth Merle (Hartgraves) Shields.
Bachelor, University Tennessee, Knoxville, 1967. Master of Arts in College Teaching, University Tennessee, Knoxville, 1969. Doctor of Philosophy, University Tennessee, Knoxville, 1978.
Educational Specialist, George Peabody College, 1975.
Teacher English Sevier County High School, Sevierville, Tennessee, 1967-1968. Head department English Battle Ground Academy, Franklin, 1969-1971. Director academics Brentwood Academy, Nashville, 1971-1973, Columbia (Tennessee) Military Academy, 1973-1974.
Instructor University Tennessee, Knoxville, 1978-1979. Assistant professor Illinois State University, Normal, 1979-1986, associate professor English, 1986-1993, professor English, 1993—2005, distinguished professor African American British and comparative literature, since 2005, director Center for Classicism in American Culture, since 2007. Consultant Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford Companion to African American Literature, Norton Anthology African American Literature, others.
Project director conference on Phillis Wheatley National Endowment of the Humanities, 1983-1985. Faculty advisor Native American Student Society Illinois State University, 1990. College of Arts and Science Lecturer, Illinois State University, since 2003.
Spokesperson for Native American citizens, since 1990. Member Modern Language Association, Society Early Americanists, International Society for 18th-Century Studies, American Studies Association, Melville Society, College Language Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Alpha Phi Omega, Sigma Nu.