2019 Barnhardt Seminar on Ethics: Dr. Ruth G. Shaw
Dr. Ruth Shaw is a leader in higher education, business, the corporate boardroom, and in her community. She came to Charlotte in 1986 as the second president of Central Piedmont Community College, following her presidency at El Centro College in Dallas. She joined Duke Power Company in 1992, serving in a succession of leadership roles, including as President and CEO of Duke Power when the electric utility was the largest division of Duke Energy. She retired in 2007 and continued to serve as an advisor to the company through 2009.
Ruth has chaired the boards of the Foundation For The Carolinas, UNC Charlotte, the United Way of Central Carolinas, the Arts and Science Council (ASC), and the Carolina Thread Trail, just to name a few. She has chaired or been a key volunteer in numerous fund-raising campaigns, including the current UNC Charlotte Exponential Campaign and the annual campaigns for United Way, ASC, and the YMCA. She was a founding member of the Women’s Impact Fund, and continues to serve on its board of advisors. She was the first woman to join Charlotte Rotary, and its first female president.
Ruth serves on the corporate boards of directors for DowDuPont, Inc., DTE Energy Company, SPX Corporation, and privately held Southwire Corporation. She chairs or has chaired the governance, compensation, and sustainability committees for these companies, and has served on audit, risk, and nuclear review committees.
Ruth received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas – Austin, and her B.A. and M.A. from East Carolina University. She has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and honorary degrees from UNC Charlotte and Winthrop University.
Ruth has been married to Colin Shaw for nearly 44 years, and they have two sons and four grandchildren.