Voston Heidelberg, a fifth-generation Alcornite from Riverdale, Ga., has enrolled in the Alcorn State University STEM master of business administration program, joining a long line of family members who have attended the institution. The decision continues a legacy that began with his great-great-great-grandparents, Herienne and Joseph Dunbar, who were among Alcorn’s first students.
Heidelberg’s family history at Alcorn dates back to the Dunbar family. His mother, Naundra Lyon-Heidelberg, a 1994 Alcorn graduate and the university’s director of student engagement, his father, his great-grandmother, and two brothers also attended the university. His brother, Voshon Heidelberg, recently graduated in 2023, and his other brother, Vonterrius Heidelberg, is currently pursuing his master’s degree.
Although Voston chose to attend North Carolina A&T State University for his undergraduate studies, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness with a minor in supply chain management, he knew his educational journey was not complete without experiencing Alcorn.
Voston’s connection to the university is rooted in his childhood, as he grew up attending homecomings and football games at the university. “They say the air is a little bit cleaner down there,” said Heidelberg. “It’s always been in my heart.”
(Picture: Voston Heidelberg, Naundra Lyon-Heidelberg ’94, Victor Heidelberg)
Coming from a Mississippi lineage, Voston understands the broad and often overlooked impact of agriculture on daily life. That was what led him to choose his undergraduate degree. “People don’t think about it on a daily basis, but agriculture is connected to so many things,” Voston said. “The clothes we wear, the food we eat, the products we use. It all comes from agriculture.”
His mother, Naundra, a 1994 Alcorn graduate and the university’s director of student engagement, was excited when she learned about his decision.
“I am ecstatic that Voston has chosen Alcorn State University as his secondary education platform,” she said. “It warms my heart to know that he has carried the generational legacy, and I can’t wait to see his end results.”
When she learned of his decision, Mrs. Lyon-Heidelberg said she felt the program was perfectly aligned with his undergraduate studies.
Alcorn’s STEM MBA program incorporates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into a traditional business curriculum, equipping students with the interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed at the intersection of business and STEM fields. The program’s coursework covers areas such as finance, marketing, operations, strategy, and entrepreneurship, with specialized STEM-focused concentrations.
“The ambiance and friendliness of Alcorn are unmatched,” said Voston. “It’s a family-oriented place, and I knew that if I didn’t attend Alcorn for undergrad, it would have to be for something else. I am excited to be a part of the history of this program and to show others that graduating from a STEM MBA program at an HBCU in one year is possible.”
Heidelberg chose Alcorn’s accelerated STEM MBA program after conversations with Dr. Joyce Buckner-Brown, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Antwon Woods, who both impressed him with their leadership and the program’s unique structure.
“The real beauty is coming to an HBCU that your family has gone to, and you meet professors, office workers, and other students who have gone through the same process of generational legacy just as you have,” said Naundra. “I just hope that people understand that because you’ve gone to another university to complete a degree, there’s no reason why you cannot continue your legacy at the same universities, especially historical black colleges that your parents, grandparents, or great grandparents have gone to as well.”
Voston advises future students to be trailblazers and take advantage of all the opportunities and funding available to them. “You can’t sit back and expect these things to fall into your lap; you have to be hungry and go get these things,” Voston said.
