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Faylene Owen

Trustee Faylene Owen

Faylene Owen was elected to serve an eight year term as a Trustee of Michigan State University beginning January 1, 2007.

For most of her adult life, Faylene Owen has been a vital force for community causes, while caring for her family and managing her small business at the same time.

As a community activist, Faylene was President of her local school system PTA when her children were school-age. She worked in school millage campaigns and for other school improvement measures. Later, Faylene was the Chair of Child Abuse Prevention Services, a board member for MSU Safe Place (for abused women), a board member of the American Heart Association's fundraising campaign for heart research for women, a board member of the MSU Kaleidoscope program, Chair of the Sparrow Hospital Foundation Board, and a board member for the MSU Hillel student center.

Faylene was a woman in business before it was commonplace. In the 1970's she was the marketing director for thousands of apartment units. She then served as Director of Special Projects for Governor James Blanchard; her service in the state government included being the executive director of the Michigan Executive Corps, a public-private partnership to bring top-level private sector expertise to the government, and a board member of the Michigan State Fair. After leaving public service, Faylene started her own business, specializing in market research and communications, for which she won several awards.

Faylene's community service and success in business was recognized by the Jewish National Fund which presented her with its Tree of Life Award.

Nationally, Faylene served as a Managing Trustee of the Democratic National Committee and as the Chair of the Clinton-Gore fundraising campaign in Michigan in 1992 and 1996. In 1996, she raised more $200 matching contributions than anyone in the country and in total she raised more than $2.5 Million.

In Michigan, Faylene was the Deputy Finance Director for Governor James Blanchard and actively worked to elect Democratic Senators, Members of Congress, Legislators, and local officials. She also chaired the Michigan Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner.

Faylene's effective work was recognized by President Clinton when he appointed her as a national member of the White House Fellows Commission, where she served with nationally recognized figures such as General Wesley Clark; Kennedy speechwriter Ted Sorenson; the first female astronaut, Sally Ride; former CIA Director Stansfield Turner; and award-winning actress Mary Steenbergen.

Faylene raised two children, both of whom graduated from Michigan State, and has three grandchildren, two of whom have attended Michigan State. She is married to Larry Owen, who also is an MSU graduate.