Dr. Antwon D. Woods is an academic entrepreneur and management strategist who thrives on brainstorming innovative ideas and promoting positive change to solve complex problems and achieve ambitious goals. With over fifteen years of progressive experience in higher education spanning both liberal arts and research institutions, Dr. Woods has distinguished himself as one of the youngest university deans in the nation, currently leading the School of Business at Alcorn State University—the oldest public historically black land-grant college in the United States.

In his pivotal role as Dean, Dr. Woods directs the school's strategic vision, upholds rigorous academic standards, and drives operational efficiency while championing faculty and student development and mentorship within the ACBSP International-accredited programs. He oversees departmental curriculum development, champions faculty- and student-led initiatives that drive innovation in learning and teaching, and advances critical academic priorities that position students for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Dr. Woods's distinguished academic credentials reflect his commitment to multidisciplinary excellence. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education and 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 further advanced his leadership expertise by completing the Senior Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, where he received a Certificate of Specialization in Executive Leadership.

As a prolific scholar, Dr. Woods has contributed to the academic community through the authorship of books and book chapters, peer-reviewed articles, presentations, and grant opportunities. His work addresses critical subjects such as student retention, engagement strategies, customer service excellence, community outreach, and shared governance in higher education.  He is a co-author of Examining Student Retention and Engagement Strategies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, an acclaimed study that explores innovative approaches to better prepare the next generation of students for success in today's competitive educational environment. Committed to advancing scholarship across disciplines, Dr. Woods has served on the editorial review boards of five academic journals and as a guest reviewer for numerous additional publications.

Dr. Woods's leadership extends beyond academia through board membership on four organizations and companies, including the HBCU National Business Deans Roundtable, where he helps shape the future of business education at historically black institutions nationwide. His exceptional contributions to higher education and business leadership have earned him prestigious national and state recognition. 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. He was subsequently recognized as one of the Top 40 Under Forty Young African American Business Professionals in the country by The Network Journal in New York in 2021, and named an Emerging Leader Fellow by the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities in 2022. In 2023, he was recognized as a ForbesBlk Member. His accolades continued in 2024, when he was named one of Mississippi's Most Influential African Americans by One Mississippi Magazine, was honored as a Marquis Who's Who in America recipient, and was selected as an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 40 Under 40 Beta Class honoree. Most recently, in 2026, he was named one of Mississippi's Fifty Under 50 Top Urban Elite Professionals.