he attended stephen f. austin state university where he served as vice president and president of the student body. while at stephen f. austin state university, owens served as a coordinator of the students for george bush in george h.w. bush's unsuccessful campaign for the u.s. senate. it was during this campaign that owens would first meet future president george w. bush. owens earned a master's degree in public affairs from the university of texas, lyndon b. johnson school of public affairs, where he was awarded a full two-year fellowship.