Dr. D’Wayne Edwards Imparts Shoe Design Skills At HBCU

Dr. D’Wayne Edwards’ journey into the forefront of sportswear design was anything but traditional. He had a creative itch as a teenager in Southern California in the 1980s, but didn’t have a clear path to pursue his passion.

He found unorthodox ways to get his designs noticed by decision makers and ultimately chart his own course to fashion influence, without a traditional education in the field he ultimately helped define.

Edwards’ contributions to sportswear design might be second to none, and the former Jordan Brand executive is helping others realize their creative visions without the uncertainty that he had to go through.

He is the president of Pensole Lewis College in Detroit, which was a previously shut-down HBCU that was revived under his guidance and idea that it could be a design-focused pipeline for sports branding companies.

Edwards’ students know that they have learned under a legend.

“People talk about Bill Parcells’ coaching tree or Gregg Popovich’s coaching tree, buy D’Wayne’s ripple effect is second to none. His impact dwarfs everyone else’s,” said former student Allen Largin.

Edwards’ life has taken many compelling twists and turns for the better despite an uncertain route to the top, but he credits former NBA star Carmelo Anthony for bringing out the teaching element of his career.

“Melo was engaged from day one, he was a student of the process, a student of creativity, of business,” Edwards said. “He didn’t just want me to say, ‘Here’s a shoe, go wear it.’ He wanted to know the why.”

Largin is now in his early thirties and is having a successful career thanks to the lessons he learned under Edwards.

“He’s shown so many people you can have a career, make a salary, have benefits,” Largin said. “You can really surprise and delight people, take them on a journey through your designs. And it goes beyond sneakers, beyond sport. It’s footwear design, but it’s also car design and graphic design.

Justin Woods went to college at Michigan State but his passion has led him to a job at Pensole Lewis College, where he helps create curriculum for first-year students.

“I always had a passion for sneakers, but I had no idea you could actually make sneakers,” Woods said. “Like, that’s a job?” That’s insane! I tell my cohort all the time, we’re part of history. But more people need to know about us, what the University of Michigan is to Ann Arbor, I want PLC to be that to Detroit.”

The smallest Historical Black College has signed a major contract with NIKE to find the next generation Shoe Designers. Dr. D’Wayne Edwards has sent an all call to sneaker designers. The top 10 will move on to an even tougher competition. pic.twitter.com/owpgoAiaLT

— Dr. J-E (@Harvarddoc32) June 17, 2026

Just like he had for himself, Edwards had big dreams for what Pensole Lewis College could become over and above what it has already accomplished. Last year, it has 200 students, but Edwards is hoping that they can get to between 500-600, while also providing curriculum for online students.

Sports fashion is Edwards’ passion, but he also believes that the school can help students make a name for themselves in other areas of design as the program expands and prospers.