Michelson IP, the intellectual property education initiative of the Michelson 20MM Foundation, has published a feature on Wood IP founder and Managing Partner Theodore A. Wood and his work to expand intellectual property education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T). The full article is available on Michelson IP’s News and Media page.

We are grateful to Michelson IP for sharing this story, and we want to use this space to explain why the work matters to our firm.

Why IP Education Matters to Us

Every day, we see how much depends on whether creators recognize the value of what they build. A patent, a trademark, or a well-managed portfolio can determine whether an innovator captures the value of their work or watches that value go elsewhere. Yet knowledge of the IP system is not evenly distributed.

As Ted told Michelson IP:

“Many aspiring inventors and future IP professionals, particularly those from historically underrepresented communities, have less exposure to intellectual property, fewer mentors, and fewer pathways into the profession.”

That gap is the reason this initiative exists.

A Return to Where It Started

Ted’s path into intellectual property began at N.C. A&T, where he studied electrical engineering and found mentors who expanded his sense of what was possible. He went on to serve nearly 24 years in the United States Air Force, earned his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law, and founded Wood IP, a service-disabled veteran-owned intellectual property law firm.

Today, he is working with Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, Dean of N.C. A&T’s College of Engineering, to develop a practical, comprehensive IP education initiative for students and faculty. Wood IP is supporting the effort on a pro bono basis.

What the Initiative Will Include

The initiative remains in development. Its first component is a multi-episode podcast series, designed as an accessible entry point rather than an end in itself. The broader vision includes:

IP education and support resources for faculty innovators

Programming for students interested in intellectual property

Exposure to careers in the field, particularly patent law

Throughout, the goal is to connect IP concepts to the questions innovators actually face: How do I recognize valuable intellectual property? How do I protect it? How do I commercialize it? And how do I make sure I capture the value of what I create?

“My focus is not simply on teaching legal concepts, but on helping innovators understand how to identify, protect, commercialize, and ultimately benefit from the value of their ideas.”

Grounded in Research

The initiative responds to challenges that Michelson IP documented in its report, Strengthening Research Ecosystems at HBCUs. The report identified barriers facing HBCU innovation, including limited funding, limited access to legal expertise, and gaps in training, technology transfer, and administrative support.

“The report confirmed challenges I already knew existed: limited funding, legal expertise, training, staffing, and commercialization support, but it also framed those challenges as solvable through intentional investment and collaboration.”

We agree. These challenges are solvable, and practitioners have a role to play in solving them.

Looking Ahead

At its best, IP education gives people the confidence to pursue their ideas and the knowledge to benefit from them. In Ted’s words:

“When that happens, IP education becomes about much more than patents or legal rights. It becomes a pathway to ownership, economic opportunity, and the ability to create lasting impact for families, communities, and future generations.”

We look forward to sharing more as the N.C. A&T initiative takes shape. Faculty, students, and IP professionals interested in learning more or contributing are welcome to contact us.

Read the full Michelson IP feature: michelsonip.com/news-media