AAMU Collaboration with My Own Business Institute Brings Virtual Entrepreneurship Training to Communities Statewide

Alabama A&M University’s Alabama Cooperative Extension System is strengthening access to entrepreneurship education through a growing partnership with the My Own Business Institute (MOBI) at Santa Clara University, offering free, virtual business courses to students, faculty and community members across Alabama.

As part of the collaboration, Terrence Norwood, state Extension specialist for community and economic development at Alabama A&M University, was invited to Santa Clara University to present Extension-developed MOBI programs during the institute’s 10th anniversary celebration and advisory board meeting on Nov. 11, 2025. Norwood shared how Alabama Extension has integrated MOBI’s curriculum to support aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners and individuals with business ideas, regardless of background or experience.

Through the partnership, Alabama Extension at AAMU offers no-cost, online entrepreneurship courses that allow participants to earn digital badges upon completion. The self-paced courses typically take about eight weeks to complete and are open to anyone in Alabama, including university students and members of the general public.

MOBI, housed in Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, provides foundational business education designed to be accessible, understandable and actionable. The curriculum makes no assumptions about a participant’s education level, business experience or technical expertise and is available in both English and Spanish.

Norwood said the partnership allows Extension to meet people where they are, whether they prefer independent online learning, one-on-one coaching or guided group instruction.
“Some people are established business owners, some are students and others simply have an idea they want to explore,” Norwood said. “This partnership gives us the flexibility to connect each person with the right tools and resources to move forward.”

Alabama A&M University is the first Extension program in the nation to implement MOBI in this comprehensive way, creating a learning repository, tracking participant engagement and gathering feedback to strengthen outreach efforts. The collaboration has also resulted in significant cost savings for the University while expanding educational capacity.
Norwood said the invitation to Santa Clara University underscored the national impact of the work being done through Alabama Extension.

“We were invited to show the power of strong partnerships and the real impact the work is having in Alabama,” Norwood said. “Through our partnership with MOBI, we are expanding access to business education, saving resources and paving the way for other land-grant institutions to better serve their communities, while empowering people from all walks of life to turn ideas into opportunity.”

To receive information about the next courses and more, visit https://www.aces.edu/go/crdinfo

(Photo L-R) Trish Kalbas-Schmidt, Senior Director, Institute Relations and Program Development, My Own Business Institute (MOBI) Leavey School of Business Santa Clara University; Terence Norwood, State Extension Specialist, Community & Economic Development, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama A&M University