H. James Owen assumed the office of president of Guilford
Technical Institute in May 1978. Owen was born in Brookline, Massachusetts.
He received a M. A. and B. A. degree from the State University of New York
at Albany and a Ph.D. in political science and higher education from the
University of Georgia.
Owen came to GTI after more than fourteen years of
community college experience in the states of Florida and Georgia
as teacher and educational administrator. Before coming to GTI he completed
five years
as vice-president in charge of the four-campus operation of Florida
Junior College at Jacksonville. He also served as an official with
the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools.
During Owen's administration at GTI, the medical
assistance program and a children's center were started. He also
sought to extend the
school's cooperation with business and industry in determining
employment needs.
