CDF Leadership & Staff

Dr. Sheadrick A. Tillman IV
Managing Director, CDF Haley Farm

Dr. Sheadrick A. Tillman IV is the managing director of the Children's Defense Fund Haley Farm, where he is responsible for leading a multi-disciplinary team that ensures the efficient and effective operations of Haley Farm. Responsible for the overall direction of the Farm, he maintains relationships with Tennessee and Clinton-area community leaders and arranges for the Farm to be used as resource for local organizations. Through CDF's programs and events, Haley Farm also serves as a center for spiritual renewal and character and servant-leadership development for youths from Tennessee and around the country.

An experienced educator, Dr. Tillman has served in senior administrative roles at major universities and in the corporate sector. He comes to CDF with 30 years of experience in research administration, grant writing, operations management and strategic planning. Most recently, Dr. Tillman served as the district director for contract compliance and strategic planning at the City Colleges of Chicago where he focused on increasing the number of minority- and women-owned businesses.

He has been involved in civic and community affairs, having served as president of the Knoxville Area Urban League Guild; board member of the Knoxville Area Urban League; chairman of the Board of Directors of MATRIX; president of the Mount Zion Baptist Church Men's Brotherhood; and as an ordained deacon of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Dr. Tillman received his doctorate degree in leadership and educational policy studies from Northern Illinois University, and his master's (M.S.Ed.) in technical and industrial education and his B.S. in education from Southern Illinois University. He and his wife, Rosalyn, have two grown daughters, Nichole and Danielle.