Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) has announced that music industry icon and entrepreneur Mathew Knowles will join the university to lead a series of master classes on entrepreneurship, branding, and media during the 2025–2026 academic year.

Knowles — widely known as the architect behind global superstars Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, and Solange — will serve as the first appointee in PVAMU’s new Presidential Executive-in-Residence Program, a campus initiative created to give students and faculty direct access to industry leaders who have reshaped business and culture.

With more than $100 million in business exits and acquisitions and high-profile campaigns for brands like Pepsi, L’Oréal, and Samsung, Knowles brings decades of experience at the intersection of entertainment, strategy, and entrepreneurship. He is a LinkedIn Top Voice, a recipient of the National Speakers Association Master of Influence Award, and is listed in Marquis Who’s Who for his contributions to business and culture.

Hands-On Learning for Students

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, Knowles will teach four master classes — two each term — in collaboration with PVAMU’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Department of Languages and Communication.

Topics will include:

  • From Solopreneur to Entrepreneur — debunking myths, shifting mindsets, and building meaningful work
  • Strategic Visibility — the art of brand-building, storytelling, and the power of narrative

These interactive sessions are designed to give students real-world experience in launching purpose-driven ventures, executing strategic communication campaigns, and navigating today’s fast-changing media landscape.

Inspiring Faculty Innovation

In addition to teaching students, Knowles will lead two faculty development workshops focused on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, harnessing storytelling, and advancing brand strategy and media innovation.

University leaders say these workshops will help bridge academic theory with industry practice, equipping faculty to inspire innovation, enrich their teaching, and better prepare students for future-ready careers.

Building a Culture of Visionary Leadership

PVAMU officials say Knowles’ appointment is the first step in a larger effort to embed visionary leadership into the academic experience and strengthen the university’s position as a national model for student success, innovation, and the transformative power of education.

“Through this program, we’re giving our students and faculty unparalleled access to the minds shaping modern business and culture,” PVAMU stated in its announcement. “Dr. Knowles exemplifies the bold, future-focused leadership that will prepare our students to thrive.”