James Owens Shows Passion for the World

James Owens was chosen as the School of Communication Outstanding Graduate for Health Communication. During his time at SDSU, Owens double majored in Health Communication and Spanish.

“I intend to use my voice to foster a sense of community with the greater public,” said Owens. “After volunteering with the Peace Corps in Peru I intend to work to promote more inclusive, health-conscious communication and create opportunities for underserved communities through the non-profit or government sectors.”

His hard work and communication skills landed him the Garcia Ogden Scholarship, awarded to select students in the communication major.

Owens studied abroad twice, once with the School of Communication and a second time with the Spanish Department.

“Each experience was unique, but the main takeaway is that the world is much bigger than the corner of California in which I grew up and went to school; the world has so much to offer and our ability to contribute to it should not go unnoticed,” said Owens.

Owens was also a part of the SDSU Men’s Crew team and worked as a research assistant for the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center.

Owens reflects on his time at the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center saying, “Through this organization, I learned the inner workings of building a brand and finding a position in which you can thrive. Every member of the executive board works tirelessly to expand research on their topic, inform the communication in the area, and ultimately protect the public from toxic tobacco residue.”

Those closest to James would tell you is a positive presence, no matter the situation. This was strongly enforced by his experience two years ago overcoming knee surgery, which altered life as he knew it. He credits this time as a learning experience to be more honest, patient, and aware of himself.

Owens’s hope for everyone graduating that they are able to find a path that animates them every day of their lives. “I hope that we continue to use our voices, rooted in our passions, to change the world for the better and help those that need it most.”

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.