N.C. A&T, Forge Greensboro Partner to Expand Student Innovation, Experiential Learning

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 10, 2026) — The Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University announces a new partnership with Forge Greensboro, a community makerspace and innovation hub dedicated to supporting creativity, entrepreneurship and hands-on learning.

“Business is the engine that allows innovation to succeed. The partnership with Forge Greensboro extends the learning environment into the Greensboro community,” said Deese College Dean Kecia Williams Smith, ‘95, Ph.D., CPA. “Partnerships like this build bridges of opportunity between the Deese College students and local entrepreneurs and is consistent with our vision to provide global business education that transforms students’ lives.”

The collaboration establishes a framework that will allow students to engage directly with real-world innovation environments where ideas can be transformed into tangible products and entrepreneurial ventures.

The partnership will support a variety of student-centered initiatives, including:

• Innovation and design-thinking workshops
• Hands-on prototyping and product development projects
• Entrepreneurial venture exploration
• Experiential learning tied to business and technology education
• Collaborative innovation programming connecting students with the Greensboro maker community

“Through the partnership, students from the Deese College will have access to Forge Greensboro’s makerspace facilities and specialized equipment used for prototyping, digital fabrication, woodworking, metalworking, electronics and other advanced manufacturing processes,” said Jason Caldwell, D.M., Deese College assistant dean for student success and programming. “These resources will provide opportunities for experiential learning that complements classroom instruction and strengthens students’ entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills.”

By engaging directly with Forge Greensboro, students gain hands‑on exposure to entrepreneurship while developing critical skills needed in today’s economy.

“Partnerships like this represent the future of business education,” said Christopher Hinton, Ph.D., Deese College management instructor. “By connecting our students with Forge Greensboro, we are creating opportunities for them to transform ideas into tangible solutions while developing the entrepreneurial mindset required in today’s innovation-driven economy.”

Forge Greensboro serves as a collaborative environment where entrepreneurs, artists, engineers, and community members work together to develop new ideas, build prototypes, and explore emerging technologies.