Professor
Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles

Dr. Claudia Owens Shields is a licensed psychologist who holds a master’s and a doctorate in multicultural community clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology.

Dr. Shields is currently a professor of psychology and former department chair of the clinical doctoral program in psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and has been teaching masters and doctoral students of psychology for 26 years, emphasizing issues of racial justice, oppression, and human diversity.

At The Chicago School’s Los Angeles Campus, she chairs both the Multicultural Diversity Advisory Committee and the Faculty Equity Committee.  She serves as faculty advisor to the Black Student Union and has facilitated numerous discussions and panels related to issues that impact the health and lives of African Americans.  Additionally, she serves as the faculty advisor to the Student Society for Global Inclusion. She also provides service to the public through The Racial Justice Advisory Board at a local church.

Dr. Shields has a small private clinical and consulting practice, where she provides services to individuals who are coping with the psychological effects of discriminatory societal issues, such as racism, heteronormativity, and homophobia.  She has also provided diversity training and consultation to training and faith-based institutions, school districts, and other organizations including a local police department.

Dr. Shields was appointed by the Azusa City Council to serve on the Human Relations Commission, dedicated to eradicating hate crimes and promoting tolerance and civic peace.  Dr. Shields later assumed a position with the Azusa Police Department, as Human Relations Coordinator, where she worked closely with the local university to develop an internship program for graduate students interested in community service, which included promoting peace through human relations.  While in this role, she also wrote a grant that provided funding for a school-based program designed to prevent bullying, racialized youth violence, gang involvement, suicide, and substance use, and to steer high school students toward successful college experiences.

Dr. Shields has received commendations from the Mayor of Los Angeles, California’s Governor, and was named, by the Century City Chamber of Commerce, as a Woman of Achievement.