Jeraline C. Shields was manager (October 2004-October 2005) of the Law and Public Safety Academy at Anacostia Senior High School, Washington, D. C. Ms. Shields’ was on loan for twelve months to this District of Columbia Public School System under the provisions of the Office of Personnel Management Intergovernmental Personnel Act from the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. She serves as a Management Analyst there performing organizational reengineering and strategic planning tasks and activities. Her assignment at the Anacostia Senior High School provided her virtual experience in multiple venues of field work, action research, and participatory action research. Ms. Shields established the first community collaboration and support group to partner for the success of the District of Columbia Academy Students as a result of her experience with Law, Public Safety, and Security Academy.

Ms. Shields earned her Associate and Bachelor of Arts degrees( Magna Cum Laude) from Saint Leo College, and her Master of Science Degree, Human and Organization Development from American University, Washington D.C. She is currently at Fielding University in the Human and Organization Development Program working toward a doctorate degree..

She has served on a variety of committees and teams for the Federal Government where she has had responsibility to research the bases for cultural and organizational changes and organizational reengineering; e.g., How U. S. Army Commanders would like their Human Resource and Equal Employment Opportunity services; Whether to Standardize Military and Civilian Training on Prevention of Sexual Harassment; and Developing Performance Standards for Employees working in Base Operations Support Organizations. Ms Shields’ design for strategic planning was used for the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army during their reengineering efforts and presented to participants from city, county, and federal government executives at the Advanced Learning Institute Conference at San Diego, California April 2004.

Ms. Shields is a management analyst who has conducted organizational studies of numerous work centers which are required by Office of Management and Budget (OMB-A-76) to determine if the tasks and/or activities being performed should be done by federal employees or contracted out to civilian companies. She was assigned and introduced the provisions of Vatican II, the first changes in the Catholic Church in 400 years, to Catholic Parishes in Williamsburg, Yorktown, Gloucester, Hampton, Newport News, and Virginia Beach Virginia.

NATURE OF CREATIVE WISDOM AND LONGEVITY RESEARCH

Perceptions of Age and Wisdom Across Cultures
What is most exciting about my research is that I will be able to compare the perceptions of wisdom across cultures. Areas of my study will reveal information that will enable planning for accommodations necessary for success and goal attainment of both organizations (Fielding) and diverse cultural individuals. In addition, I hope my experience will stimulate appreciation for valuing the cultural similarities and differences of perceptions of wisdom. Knowledge of individual’s of diverse world views and how, collectively, the study results will impact on whether to attract and retain the older population, determine the value, limitations, and benefits of paying more attention to how the study of perceptions of wisdom impacts the community system, organizations, and individuals. Explore what the children of and others responsible for older individuals should know to prepare the various stages of development.