Professor Shade grew up in Colorado. He received his B.A. degree in philosophy from Colorado State University in 1987 and his M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 1996. His graduate work focused on American philosophy, culminating in a dissertation that developed a pragmatic theory of hope. His first book is Habits of Hope: A Pragmatic Theory (Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2001). He has recently written on hope and September 11.

Professor Shade has taught at Rhodes since the Fall of 1996. His areas of interest include ethics, American philosophy (especially the thought of John Dewey), the history of philosophy (with special emphasis on Ancient and Early Modern thought), and philosophy of education. Courses he teaches include: first and second year Search, Ancient Philosophy, Early Modern Philosophy, German Philosophy, American Philosophy, Logic, Optimism/Pessimism, Ethics, Theory of Knowledge, and Senior Seminar.

Rhodes Student Government named Professor Shade the 2001-2002 Outstanding Faculty Member. Professor Shade was the 2007 recipient of the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching.