Bro. Owens will head to the University of Oxford this fall to continue his graduate studies as the recipient of the prestigious Barry Scholarship, an academic prize “awarded for dedication to the academic vocation and the pursuit of truth.”

He found a passion for social justice while at PVAMU, which led him to help coordinate the university’s first TEDx series, boosting the university as only the second school in the A&M system to host a TEDx and only the fourth HBCU to do so. His second TEDx event was held this past spring. Bro. Owens has also found ways to align his passions with action and encourages others to speak up and use their voice. His most recent accomplishment was participating in and winning the university’s 8th Annual Essay/Oratory Contest.

His topic, centered on Frantz Fanon’s “Black Skin, White Masks,” encouraged Black people and all marginalized communities to “take off the masks we wear to fit into false societal constructs,” said Owens. To achieve true social justice, he said we have to embrace “who we are and live in our true power.”