Wayne Shields

About Wayne Shields

Women\'s and LGBTQ+ health education, policy, and advocacy professional with gender equality expertise. Over two decades of NGO management, public health, policy, partnership development, communications, board development, and fundraising experience. I currently serve as Interim Executive Director for ME Action Network, a global research and advocacy nonprofit focused on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID. Prior to that, I was Senior Policy Fellow at Equimundo, an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and works with groups in the US and 40+ countries to advance gender equality, promote healthy masculinity, and prevent violence. I am also a Partner at Turner4D, a progressive communications and public affairs firm where I help nonprofits, B-corporations, and public sector clients with organizational development, fundraising, communications, board governance, partnership development, coalition building, and advocacy. For 20 years, I served as President/CEO at the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, a sexual and reproductive health professional society. I earned a Master\'s in Public Management and Policy with a concentration in gender, and a Master\'s certification in NGO Management, both from Johns Hopkins University. I was the first male to earn an undergraduate degree in Women\'s Studies from Old Dominion University, and also hold a Bachelor\'s in English Literature from ODU.

Experience

1. Interim Executive Director

   Meaction

   Dec 2023 — Present

Education

• Old Dominion University

  BA, Women's Studies and English Literature

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Master's certification, nonprofit management

  2018 — 2020

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Master's degree, public management and policy, gender concentration

  2018 — 2020

• The George Washington University

  Organizational Management