Originally from Florida, she is a state certified K-12 English language learner and special education teacher. In 2006, Dr. Owens was the recipient of the CEC Black Caucus Scholarship. She has been an active member of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) for over a decade. She serves in leadership roles as the director of the College of Charleston Teaching Fellows Program and Coordinator for the college's Teacher Cadet Partership. Dr. Owens' is dedicated to a professional career that will contribute to improving the pedagogy for culturally and linguistically diverse twice-exceptional gifted learners labeled emotionally disabled.