Education

B.A., Journalism, University of South Carolina
M.A., International Relations, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

Background

Clay Owen brings a wealth of professional experience to the classroom, including eight years in news production at CNN and more than 25 years in corporate communications at AT&T.

From producing live, on-site coverage of Princess Diana's funeral to helping launch the original iPhone with AT&T, he's been on the cutting edge of both news and major technology launches.

Awards

• Distinguished Alumnus, University of South Carolina College of Journalism
• PRSA Bronze Anvil, 2023 - Executive Communications, Bridge to Possibility, AT&T
• PRSA Bronze Anvil, 2002, Cingular Takes On the Big Apple
• Atlanta Falcons Community Quarterback Award 2012
• AT&T Summit Award 2012

Teaching

Owen believes in teaching the fundamentals of great writing. Students need to write clearly and concisely. That's the foundation. He will be their coach, assessing their progress weekly but also pushing them to dig deeper and pursue excellence.

Service

Owen and his wife founded the non-profit Curing Kids Cancer after losing their nine-year-old son Killian to leukemia. Since 2005, they have raised more than $29 million for pediatric cancer research. Among their notable achievements are establishing the Gamecocks Curing Kids Cancer Clinic at Prisma Health Children's Hospital-Midlands in Columbia and  an endowed professorship for pediatric cancer research at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. 

Personal

Count him in if you're ready to talk Gamecock sports, watch classic movies,  listen to blues and jazz, and set off on world travel. Owen is a bit of an anglophile — having spent a decade working and studying in England. It's where he met his wife and where three of their four children were born. He also comes from a solid Gamecock family. His father, two uncles, brother, two sisters, three sons and countless cousins all graduated from the original, and best, USC.