Dr. Antwon Woods, dean of the School of Business at Alcorn State University, has been selected as one of the recipients of Our Mississippi’s Most Influential African Americans for 2023-2024.
Honorees will be recognized during the Our Mississippi Honors Gala, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, at the Cadence Bank Conference Center in Tupelo, Miss. Actor Malik Yoba will be the keynote speaker.
“Being named among Mississippi’s most influential African Americans is not just a personal accomplishment; it signifies the possibilities inherent when individuals dare to dream, stand against adversities, and courageously challenge the status quo,” said Woods. “I accept this honor not as an endpoint, but as a reminder that the path to true equality is still being paved. We must continue to tread this road, unified in our purpose, until every member of our community can equally partake in the promises of freedom.”
According to Our Mississippi Magazine, individuals were selected by an independent panel of business and community members based on nominations received from the public.
Woods is passionate about using positive academic leadership to solve problems and achieve goals.
Before arriving at Alcorn, he served as assistant to the president for Special Initiatives, associate dean of the School of Business, and associate professor of Business and Sports Management at Belhaven University. He also led the Southern Region Assembly of the International Accreditation Council for Business Education as its president.
He was named one of Mississippi’s Top 50 under 40 Business Leaders in 2018 by the Mississippi Business Journal, Top 40 under Forty Young African American Business Professionals by the Network Journal in New York, and an Emerging Leader Fellow by the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.
Woods holds 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. He completed studies at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where he received a post-doctorate certificate in Executive Leadership.
In addition, he is a member of ForbesBLK, the Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society, the Sigma Iota Epsilon Management Fraternity, the Sigma Alpha Pi Honor Society, the Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement Honor Society, and the Golden Key International Honour Society.
He is among 14 honorees to be recognized. They are Rosa M. Beckett, CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority; Dr. Charles Bouldin, owner, North Mississippi Physical Therapy; Kim Crumble, director and plant manager, APMM; Rip Daniels, entrepreneur; Maggie Wade Dixon, news anchor, WLBT; Willie Fairley – director, Ingalls Shipbuilding; Craig Jackson, general manager, C Spire; Carla Kirkland, CEO, The Kirkland Group; Kirk Lewis – CEO, Blue Springs Metals; Bishop Clarence Parks, founder and senior bishop, Temple of Compassion and Deliverance; Dr. Rickey Thigpen – president and CEO, Visit Jackson; Victor Taylor, vice president of manufacturing, Nissan Canton; and Dr. Alexandria White – senior vice president, Reboot Accel.
