Meet Antwon Woods, Ph.D.

Dr. Antwon D. Woods is an academic entrepreneur that appreciates brainstorming new ideas and bringing about good change to solve problems and achieve goals. He has more than ten years of experience in higher education, having worked at both liberal arts and research universities. He is currently the Dean of the School of Business and an Associate Professor of Management at Alcorn State University, the United States' oldest public historically black land-grant college. He oversees the school of business's strategic direction, academic quality, and operational excellence, as well as faculty and student professional development and mentorship, which is accredited by ACBSP International.

 

Dr. Woods possesses a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Higher Education and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Jackson State University, a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Science in Sport Management from Middle Tennessee State University. Later, he completed his studies at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, where he received a Post-Doctorate Certificate in Executive Leadership.

 

In his decanal role, Dr. Woods oversees the departmental curriculum, support of faculty-and student-led initiatives for innovation in learning and teaching, and other academic priorities. Dr. Woods is one of the co-authors of Examining Student Retention and Engagement Strategies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, an acclaimed study that investigates new innovations to better prepare the next generation of students for success in the competitive educational industry. Dr. Woods has published over 30 peer-reviewed research articles on retention, student engagement, customer service, community outreach, and shared governance in addition to his book. To broaden his research experience, he served on the editorial review boards of five distinct academic journals and as a guest reviewer for countless additional journals; he also contributes to his deanship by sitting on the board of advisors for three different companies.

Dr. Woods is a member of various honor societies, such as Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business, Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society, Sigma Iota Epsilon Management Fraternity, Sigma Alpha Pi Honor Society, Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement Honor Society, and Golden Key International Honor Society. He holds a life membership in both the Jackson State University National Alumni Association and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and is an active member in his fraternity's local chapter, Sigma Sigma Lambda.  

Dr. Woods was named one of Mississippi's Top 50 Under 40 Business Leaders by the Mississippi Business Journal in 2018, a distinction acknowledged by Governor Tate Reeves and Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann. As a result of his efforts, Dr. Woods was named one of the Top 40 Under Forty Young African American Business Professionals in the country by the Network Journal in New York, as well as an Emerging Leader Fellow by the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities and recognized as a member of ForbesBlk. In 2024, he was named one of Mississippi's Most Influential African Americans by One Mississippi Magazine, a Marquis Who's Who in America honoree, and an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 40 Under 40 Beta Class honoree.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Woods is also dedicated to his family life. He married Dr. Constance Barnes-Woods, CEO of Beanstalk Pediatrics, with whom he co-founded both Beanstalk Pediatrics and Woods Management Group. Together they have a daughter named Bella Elizabeth.