Dr. Anthony Owens is a father to two wonderful adult children, and the father figure to many as a longtime member of the faculty at Bethune-Cookman University. Dr. Owens grew up in Jacksonville, Mississippi and was raised by his Father and his Grandfather, along with his 13 siblings. His understanding of fatherhood is rooted in his childhood watching his father and grandfather welcome kids throughout the community into their home, and care for them, with limited resources, as if they were their own. Working within the educational system, Dr. Owens places great importance on fathers not just being a positive male presence for their own children, but for all younger individuals they meet who are in need of such a presence. 

“It all stemmed from seeing my dad, that untrained professional social worker, but really being a social worker, had so many kids and seeing how he maneuvered and had all of us busy at one time, and all of us turned out well”.