Darryl E. Owens serves as associate vice president of communications and engagement at Beacon College. He is the creator, executive producer, and host of "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity," which celebrates and supports families rearing children with learning differences, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences on their neurodiversity journeys.

Prior to joining Beacon College, Owens worked for 25 years as a general assignment reporter, lifestyle writer, and later columnist and editorial writer at The Orlando Sentinel. During his journalism career, he stood side-by-side with neurosurgeons chronicling every cut of their scalpels during two brain surgeries, covered the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, interviewed Hall of Fame athletes and civil rights icons, flew in police helicopters, and grilled dissembling politicians.

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.

During his Sentinel stint, he won 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.

Owens also has won nearly 30 public relations/communications awards, including five Telly Awards, three Anthem Awards, gold awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Educational Digital Marketing Awards, a Public Relations Society of America (Orlando chapter) Radiance Award, and Image Awards from the Florida Public Relations Association for his work on behalf of Beacon College.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in journalism at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He is an ordained deacon and celebrates 34 years of marriage to his wife, Sherri, also a lapsed journo and public relations professional. The couple has two adult children and one granddaughter.