250 Words With...Delila Owens
2005 Alumni Success Stories
Delila OwensDelila Owens (AS'96), assistant professor of counselor education at Wayne State University.

  • You earned your Ph.D. when you were just 27! How did Ferris help?

    While at Ferris I learned study skills, time management and leadership skills by participating in organizations such as the Residence Hall Association, You Beautiful Black Woman, Homecoming Court and the Social Work Association. Everything helped.

  • You received a Minority Student Leadership Scholarship from the Office of Minority Student Affairs. How helpful was that?

    The scholarship assisted me financially, plus one of the criteria for the scholarship was campus involvement. The Office of Minority Student Affairs helped me feel supported while at Ferris. This office is vital to students of color and students in general; I don't think it gets the recognition and respect it deserves.

  • Were there particular professors at Ferris that helped mentor you?

    One was Professor Vicki Williams. She wanted all of her students to be successful. The other professor was Barbara Pillsbury. She taught me the importance of advocacy in your profession.

  • What are you doing now and what other goals do you still have?

    I'm currently involved in a documentary entitled "Watch Over Me," which will showcase oppression and poverty in America.

  • That's not something you specifically went to school to study.

    No, but Ferris just generally gave me a great start in my career. We had two internships to complete prior to completing our program. These allowed me to put theoretical concepts into practice. The real-world application was one of the best aspects of being in the Social Work program at Ferris.

In Delila's Words.....

I just fell in love with the campus when I came for a college visit. Initially, I had no desire to be in Michigan. The campus environment was inviting and core classes were small, that is what initially attracted me to Ferris.

I graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor's degree in 1996, after which, I took a position working with underprivileged teenagers. This particular position was challenging because I had not yet learned to remove my emotions from the situations that I encountered. Oftentimes, I would analyze the home lives of these children and just be emotion filled.

I eventually went on to obtain a master's degree in counseling from Central Michigan University and a doctorate in counselor education from Michigan State University. Going through my doctorate program was one of my most challenging experiences to date. During that time in my life, I would reflect back to my experiences at Ferris, my family, my purpose for being there and my faith. Reflecting empowered me to press forward and finish. I am a true believer that God ordains my steps and we eventually end up where we are supposed to be.

Things have kind of come full circle now that I am an assistant professor at Wayne State University. Being a professor allows me to empower minds! I think back to some of the experiences that I had with some of my favorite professors. Professors like Barbara Pillsbury who was an awesome person that I greatly respect. Professor Pillsbury used to act in plays. I remember as a student, my classmates and I would go to some of her plays. It allowed me to see that she was a person outside of her career. It is these types of professors that drive my passion for research, service, a teaching.