Today we’d like to introduce you to R. Wayne Woodson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us R. Wayne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am from a family of educators. My mom is a retired, 37-year Detroit Public School teacher and administrator. I am also the Great-Grand Nephew of Carter G. Woodson, who has been labeled the Father of Black History. Most of the women in my family were teachers. Interestingly, I swore that I would never become an educator. I always observed the long hours my mother put in and the work she brought home. I vowed that I would never submit to that kind of life.
I did my undergraduate work at Morehouse College. I did graduate study in voice at New England Conservatory. I have a Masters of Music and Artists Diploma from Georgia State University. I did my Ph.D. study in Higher Education Leadership at Capella University. I am currently completing a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership at Northcentral University.
I started my career in classical music. The early part of my life took me to Poland, Bermuda, Russia, and Austria. I sang in some of the most beautiful performance venues in the world. I have conducted orchestras and choruses and had the opportunity to bring to life some of the most beautiful music ever written. I had opportunities that an African American male from Detroit could only dream of, but always in my heart, something was missing.
I worked in the nonprofit sector for several years, and then made a sudden shift to higher education. Interestingly, although I swore I would never work in education, I have loved it. I consistently feel fulfilled and accomplished. Each time a student graduates, I know that he or she will go on to do amazing things. After leaving my last position, I began to focus full-time on Woodson and Associates which is an educational consulting firm. We have recently launched The Woodson Fund, which is the foundation that provides scholarships and support.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not been smooth. One of the major challenges has been getting people to know that the company is available and credible. Entering the higher education space as a consulting company is not an easy task. The field is dominated by a few companies that control the market. Although the entire staff of Woodson and Associates is highly credentialed, we often find ourselves having conversations around credibility. Making those initial connections as the Managing Partner of Woodson and Associates has been challenging because I do not have an institution with which to align myself that adds additional credibility.
It is also hard to start a business of this sort from the ground up with limited resources. I began this company with my savings. There was no major benefactor who put up a large amount of money to help and I am not from a wealthy family. This has been a struggle. In essence, it has been the epitome of the American Dream. I have been blessed that some people have come on board and offered their services free of charge. They have done this because they believe in the work that we are doing.
Personally, starting a company with such a large mission from the grassroots phase has been challenging. I now find myself at a point where I have exhausted my savings and the company is just starting to become known. I have spoken to other entrepreneurs and they have shared with me that this is usually the point that many people call it quits. To be honest, I did think about it a couple of times. But, the work that we do is so valuable to so many that it keeps me motivated. I have been very fortunate to have friends and loved ones that have been providing financial and other support as I work to build the company. I try to attend as many events as I can and to be active on social media so that our company is kept in the public eye. This has been a major shift for me because I have not been such a public person in the past. There are still days that I wake up and think, “This task is huge!”
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Woodson and Associates story. Tell us more about the business.
We focus on three areas:
1. HBCU consulting in the following areas: Board Governance, Enrollment Management, Institutional Advancement/Fundraising, Institutional Effectiveness, Marketing and Branding, Strategic Planning, Student Leadership Training, Student Services, and Title IX Compliance.
2. Potential Students for HBCUs-College Readiness Programs. The most known program is the Ready4 College Workshop which we launched in Atlanta and are now preparing to take nationally.
3. Current HBCU Students: Scholarship and Support Services
Woodson & Associates, LLC provides professional educational consulting services to Historically Black Colleges and Universities to strengthen these great institutions for long-term sustainability and success.
Woodson & Associates, LLC is a premier consulting firm dedicated to improving HBCUs through services that enhance each institution’s ability to meet their respective mission and vision. Our mission is accomplished through institutional reviews, program development, onsite staff placements, and staff training.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Some major shifts are happening across the country that are hugely impacting our industry. HBCUs are seeing increases in enrollment, but funding decreases. This is impacting the ability of smaller institutions to provide exceptional services. A larger focus on cyber and STEM majors is requiring that schools be at the cutting edge of technology which will require infrastructure improvements. Online education options are critical to sustainability and that is significantly going to impact the HBCU community.
All of these factors will directly impact the work that Woodson and Associates will do over the next five years as we will have to stay on the cutting edge of how to move our institutions forward. A great deal of our work will be shifting to finding resources to ensure that HBCUs can meet and exceed the needs of incoming students.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.woodsonassoc.com
- Phone: 404-647-1300
- Email: rwoodson@woodsonassoc.com
- Instagram: drwoodson2020
- Twitter: drwoodson2020
- Other: www.rwaynewoodson.com
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