Background
Ph.D., University of Missouri - St. Louis
M.A., University of Missouri - St. Louis
B.S., Southeast Missouri State University
Dr. Owen joined the Radford University faculty in 2000.
Interests
Dr. Owen’s primary area of focus is emergency management and planning. Dr. Owen is
currently conducting research on the evolution and implementation of incident command
at active shooter events; he has presented his research at the national Advanced Law
Enforcement Rapid Response Training Conference. Dr. Owen is also exploring how improvisational
theatre techniques may promote effective interpersonal communication and community
relations in criminal justice professions, and has consulted on the use of applied
improvisation in law enforcement. In addition, he has conducted research on a variety
of other issues, including criminal justice education, institutional corrections,
LGBTQ+ issues in criminal justice, interpersonal violence, and criminal justice policy.
Recent Professional Activities
Dr. Owen’s introductory criminal justice textbook, Foundations of Criminal Justice,
is entering its fourth edition (2024, Oxford University Press); his lecture series
titled When Everything Fails: Survive Any Disaster was published in a Great Courses
video series; and he has also authored over 100 book chapters, articles, proceedings,
encyclopedia entries, and reviews. Dr. Owen has been recognized with the university’s
Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award, Distinguished Creative Scholar
Award, and Distinguished Service Award, and with the College of Humanities and Behavioral
Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award and Distinguished Service Award.
