October 29, 2009

Owens Retirement

MACOMB, IL – Janice Owens, director of the Western Illinois University Scholarship Office since 1987, will retire Jan. 1, 2010 after 27 years of service. A reception will be announced at a later date. A search is currently underway, according to President Al Goldfarb.

Owens began working at WIU in 1982. Prior to joining Western's staff, she was a prep and public school art teacher and chairperson in Maryland and Virginia. In addition to Owens' role as scholarship director at WIU, she has served as an academic adviser, as assistant to the executive assistant for enrollment management and assistant to the president for external relations, and has taught art classes.

In her years as scholarship director, Owens noted she is most proud of the number of students her office is able to assist each year. More than 600 scholarships – many with multiple recipients – are awarded annually. In the 2008-2009 academic year, more than $2.8 million in scholarships and other financial assistance was awarded to more than 3,500 students.

"Throughout the years, Janice's deep commitment to our students and her compassion for their needs have been significant," said Goldfarb. "I've heard from numerous students how Janice has personally helped them through rough times and was there to listen. She will be greatly missed by our students and her colleagues."

Owens received her Master's of Fine Arts and Master's of Arts from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and her bachelor's degree from Morgan State College in Baltimore, MD. She has served on numerous committees at Western, including enrollment management, academic excellence, Affirmative Action grievance, Minority Internship Selection and Future Faculty Fellows Selection. Owens is also a member of the President's Recruitment and Retention Task Force and is the founder/director of the WIU Minority Achievement Program. In the community, she served as the president of the Two Rivers Council of Girl Scouts for six years and as a board member for the council for 18 years. Owens also serves on the Family Selection Committee for the McDonough County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Owens has received numerous certificates of appreciation from WIU's Affirmative Action program and in 2002, she was named Black Administrator of the Year by the Black Student Association at Western.



Copy By: Darcie Shinberger, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606