Lorman, Miss. — May 29, 2026 — Alcorn State University is proud to announce that Dr. Antwon D. Woods, dean of the School of Business, has been named as a recipient of VentureWell’s Institutional Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) Award. Woods has received $15,000 to advance Alcorn’s STEM I&E capabilities.
Woods was one of 77 partners representing 64 academic institutions who participated in a pilot program to contribute to VentureWell’s Science and Tech Innovation Inventory (S&T II). The S&T II tool, informed by approximately 200 research-backed indicators, assesses an institution’s I&E strengths across six key ecosystem areas and provides a roadmap to inform its STEM I&E programs, curricula, and policy development.
Participating faculty in the pilot program were evaluated by a committee that reviewed their acumen and potential to advance I&E and research translation at their universities.
Five individuals were selected to receive funding to launch and expand academic courses and programs, host convenings, support student research projects or pitches, and advance commercialization activities.
“Receiving the VentureWell Institutional I&E Award is a tremendous honor for Alcorn State University and our School of Business,” said Woods. “This $15,000 investment will directly fuel three high-impact initiatives — 1. a STEM I&E Pitch Competition, 2. an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Series, and 3. an SBDC-Integrated Student Venture Lab. Each designed to place our students at the center of real-world innovation and entrepreneurial experience. At Alcorn, we believe that the next generation of STEM-driven entrepreneurs deserves access to the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to compete on any stage. This award moves us closer to that reality.”
Alcorn State University’s approach to innovation and entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in its land-grant mission of community service, economic development, and academic excellence. As Mississippi’s first HBCU land-grant institution, Alcorn is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between STEM education and entrepreneurial practice — particularly for students who have historically been underrepresented in the innovation ecosystem.
“The School of Business has made significant strides in building an I&E framework that is both academically rigorous and community-connected, anchored by the nation’s first HBCU STEM-designated MBA program and the university’s groundbreaking NVIDIA DGX Spark AI Laboratory,” said Woods.
VentureWell’s investment will accelerate those efforts by expanding student engagement, strengthening faculty capacity for research translation, and deepening partnerships with regional economic development organizations such as the MS SBDC Network. Our goal is to establish Alcorn State as a nationally recognized hub for HBCU-driven innovation — where students do not just study entrepreneurship, they live it.
For more information about VentureWell’s S&T II and the full list of awardees, visit VentureWell’s website.
