2026 Convocation Speaker: Ontario S. Wooden, Ph.D.

Ontario S. Wooden, Ph.D., serves as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where he provides leadership for all academic programs and initiatives across the university. He was appointed to the position in January 2025, following his interim role beginning in July 2024. 

A distinguished academic leader with more than two decades of progressive experience across three public university systems, Dr. Wooden has built a career defined by visionary leadership, a deep commitment to student success, and a record of driving institutional transformation. His professional journey reflects a consistent focus on academic excellence, access, and innovation — hallmarks of his leadership philosophy and guiding principles.

Before rejoining NCCU, Dr. Wooden served at North Carolina State University as Senior Associate Dean of University College in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, where he played a central role in strengthening undergraduate student success initiatives, faculty development, and cross-college collaboration.     

Dr. Wooden served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Alcorn State University, where he was later appointed Interim President by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in 2023. As Interim President, he provided executive leadership during a period of transition, focusing on stability, accountability, and the continued advancement of Alcorn’s mission as one of the nation’s leading historically Black land-grant institutions.

Dr. Wooden’s career also includes a distinguished 12-year tenure at North Carolina Central University, where he held a series of increasingly senior leadership positions, including Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Academic Outreach, Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovative, Engaged, and Global Education, and Dean of University College. He also served in interim capacities as Associate Dean of the School of Education and Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning.

During this period, NCCU achieved record graduation and retention rates, reflecting his effectiveness in aligning academic innovation with institutional goals and student needs. Dr. Wooden led major initiatives to improve student outcomes, redesign academic support structures, and strengthen NCCU’s national reputation as a leader in access and student achievement. His leadership fostered a culture of data-informed decision-making, accountability, and collaboration that continues to shape the university’s academic direction today.

He began his academic career at his undergraduate alma mater, Albany State University, where he directed the Velma Fudge Grant Honors Program and Academic Success Initiatives and served as an assistant professor of education. His early experiences as a faculty member and mentor deeply shaped his commitment to expanding educational opportunity and ensuring that all students have the tools and support to succeed.

A respected scholar and thought leader on college access, choice, and student success, Dr. Wooden has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and policy reports. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education and the Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education. His recent book, AI Empowered: Pioneering African American Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age, explores the intersections of innovation, equity, and digital transformation.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Wooden has secured more than $10 million in external funding to support academic innovation and student success initiatives. He is a frequent speaker at national and international higher education conferences, where he shares his insights on leadership, institutional effectiveness, and the evolving landscape of public higher education.

Known for his collaborative leadership style, strategic acumen, and unwavering commitment to student-centered excellence, Dr. Wooden continues to shape and strengthen the academic enterprise at North Carolina Central University while advancing the university’s legacy of access, equity, and innovation in higher education.

Dr. Wooden graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Albany State University. He earned a M.S. in Higher Education, a post-master’s certificate in Institutional Research, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education with a minor in African American and African Diaspora studies from Indiana University Bloomington.

He is married to Kimberly Wooden, and they have a son, Liam.