Owston, James (Jim)

Jim Owston joined the staff at Concord University in 2023 as an online instructional design coach. With over 35 years in higher education, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the following modalities: online, traditional seated, independent studies, and hybrid. He has taught at Southern New Hampshire University, Alderson Broaddus University, Concordia University – Portland, Mountain State University, West Virginia State University, Marshall University, and WV Rocks.

Previously, Dr. Owston was a tenured professor of mass communication at Alderson Broaddus University and an associate professor of communication and media at Mountain State University.

He has served in the following administrative roles:

• Interim Provost, Associate Provost, Assistant Provost for Extended Learning, Interim Dean of the College of Adult and Distance Education, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Alderson Broaddus University.
• Dean of Distance Education at Kentucky Christian University.
• Dean of Distance Learning, Assistant VP for University Relations, Director of Media Services, and Executive Assistant at Mountain State University.

Prior to and during Owston’s early years in higher education, he was a 20-year veteran of the broadcasting industry in the Huntington and Beckley, WV markets. As a programmer, he was a five-time winner in Active Industry Research’s national “Pick the Hits” competition. He also was awarded 14 gold and platinum records for his ability to determine the hit potential of new releases.

Awards & Honors:

• Named the 2022 Dr. Hal Shaver, APR Public Relations Faculty of the Year Award through the Public Relations Society of America – West Virginia chapter.
• Winner of the 2019 Best in Show Award for Owston & Owston’s 2018 Beckley Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day from the Public Relations Society of America – East Central District serving Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
• Winner of the 2018 Best in West Virginia Award for Owston & Owston’s 2018 Beckley Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day from the Public Relations Society of America – West Virginia chapter.
• 2009 winner of the Alice L. Beeman International Research Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Communication and Marketing for Educational Advancement, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.
• 2008 winner of the Leo and Margaret Goodman-Malamuth National Award for Outstanding Research in Higher Educational Administration, American Association of University Administrators.

Professional Affiliations:

• Quality Matters Peer Reviewer (2023-)
• Peer Review Corps of the Higher Learning Commission (2009-)
• Board of Directors of the American Association of University Administrators (2017-). Member of the publications committee (2022-)
• Public Relations Society of America – West Virginia Chapter (2016-). Member of the Board of Directors (2021-) and chapter secretary (2023-2024)
• Sons of the American Revolution (2012-); Charter Member of the John Beckley Chapter (2018-)
• Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (2012-)
• American Mensa® (2012-)
• Guild of One-Name Studies (2011-)
• International Society of Genetic Genealogists (2010-)