Sheldon serves as Board Chair of the IPIE and was its Co-founder. He is also the CEO (ret) and Founder of the Peacetech Lab (PTL) which he spun out from the United States Institute of Peace in 2014. PTL has received international recognition for what former President Clinton described as its "remarkable" work to equip peacemakers with technology, media, and data tools.  Previously, he served as a foreign policy adviser to a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the head of North American Documentary Development for Yorkshire TV, and the CEO/Executive Producer for Common Ground Productions. He is an award-winning filmmaker, former commentator for National Public Radio, and author of numerous articles on politics, popular culture, and conflict. He holds a doctorate from Oxford University, a BA from Johns Hopkins University and has received the Capitol Area Peacemaker Award from American University and the Prometheus Social Enterprise Award.