Shawn Smallwood

Background

Shawn Smallwood brings a unique blend of disciplined leadership, culinary expertise and public‑sector dedication to his doctoral studies. His educational background reflects a lifelong love of learning and includes a master’s degree in innovation leadership and entrepreneurship, two bachelor’s degrees and two associate degrees — among them an Associate of Applied Science in patisserie and baking from Le Cordon Bleu.

Smallwood currently serves as a Project Manager at the Southwestern Commission Council of Governments, specializing in federal and state grant writing and administration with a focus on infrastructure resiliency, regional economic expansion and recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene. Beginning in Fall 2026, he will also join Western Carolina University as a part‑time adjunct instructor, teaching entrepreneurship to undergraduate students.

A U.S. Army veteran and former pastry chef, Smallwood enjoys gardening, exploring complex academic research and baking artisan pastries for colleagues. He is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration with the goal of transitioning into a tenured teaching track, where he plans to continue conducting research that strengthens economic development across rural Western North Carolina.

Research Interest

Smallwood’s research interests center on rural entrepreneurship, small business resilience and regional economic development in Western North Carolina. He recently co‑authored Examining the political training grounds: campaign experience on entrepreneur’s self‑evaluation and perceived behavioral control, published in the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development (Vol. 33, No. 1, 2026), and presented his research on small business resilience at the 2024 Appalachian Regional Business Symposium hosted at Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business. His current work investigates how external shocks — including COVID‑19 and Tropical Storm Helene — shape small business adaptation and recovery. Expanding this focus, he is also exploring housing‑market data, policy and development, recognizing that affordability and access to stable housing are foundational to entrepreneurial opportunity and long‑term economic vitality across Western North Carolina.