Jeffrey Shields, FASAE, CAE, has served as President and CEO of NBOA: Business Leadership for Independent Schools since 2010. Under his leadership, NBOA has strengthened its role as the only national association exclusively dedicated to supporting independent PK–12 business and operations professionals. Through a unique combination of knowledge, community, and practical tools, NBOA empowers member schools to lead with clarity, confidence, and strategic insight.
NBOA represents nearly 1,300 U.S. independent schools, along with schools in Mexico, Canada, and more than 25 additional countries. In total, the association serves over 1,500 member schools, business partners, associations, and allied organizations. Its offerings span live events, webinars, online courses, publications, research, web-based resources, and opportunities for volunteer leadership. During Shields’s tenure, NBOA has experienced significant membership growth, expanded programming and services, and established strong long-term financial reserves.
A highly sought-after speaker, Shields delivers keynotes and educational sessions across the independent school landscape. His audiences include business officers, business operations professionals, heads of school, trustees, and other school leaders at state, regional, and national gatherings.
Before joining NBOA, Shields spent nearly a decade with the National Association of College and University Business Officers, ultimately serving as senior vice president and chief planning officer. He began his association management career as assistant director for leadership training at the National Association of Home Builders.
Shields’s current board service includes roles as a director for AMHIC, a healthcare consortium for educational associations based in Washington, D.C., and as a trustee for E3n (the merged organization of The Enrollment Management Association and ERB). His past board experience includes service as a director for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), a director for One Schoolhouse—an innovative online school supporting independent schools—and as a trustee for Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C.
An active ASAE member, Shields is recognized as an ASAE Fellow (FASAE) and holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University.
He resides in Washington, D.C. and is the proud father of his 20-year-old daughter, Samantha, who attends Penn State University.
A research report analyzing trends across 18 key financial and operational indicators over five years. Use this report to benchmark performance, stress-test assumptions and make informed decisions, as external forces continue to challenge long-term financial sustainability.
