Darryl E. Owens

Darryl E. Owens is the associate vice president, communications and engagement at Beacon College. In this role, he maintains the overall management and supervisory responsibility for external and internal communication functions at Beacon College including branding and messaging, website content, social media, media relations and program development on various media platforms, photography, and preparation and editing of external and internal communications, and the Beacon Salon Speaker Series. He also is the creator and host of the college’s Telly Award-winning neurodiversity-focused television program, “A World of Difference.” In September, begins its PBS run locally on Orlando’s PBS station, WUCF, and on PBS outlets nationally.

Prior to joining Beacon, Owens worked for 25 years as a features writer, columnist and editorial writer at the Orlando Sentinel. During his award-winning Sentinel career, he stood side-by-side with neurosurgeons during two brain surgeries chronicling their mastery with their scalpels, covered the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, interviewed Hall of Fame athletes, civil rights icons, and buzzed around in police helicopters.

Owens also discussed issues impacting Central Florida and the state during his short-lived segment, “Darryl Owens Perspectives” on Orlando NPR-affiliate WMFE-FM and was a regular voice on the station’s Friday news roundup on its “Intersection” program.

His journalism career included a handful of awards including First Place, Commentary and Criticism, in the 2012 Sunshine State Awards and First Place, News Commentary in the 2010 National Association of Black Journalists “Salute to Excellence Awards.

As a PR practitioner, Owens has earned a PRSA Orlando Radiance Award, Grand Image and Image awards from the Florida Public Relations Association, gold awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and honorable mentions in the PR News CSR & Diversity Awards among other awards.

He is dedicated to community service, including a stint on the board of directors of Lake Cares Food Bank and his current service on the board of directors of Community Health Centers. He is also an ordained deacon.

Owens earned his Bachelor of Arts in journalism at Howard University in Washington, D.C.