About Me

Dawn Owens began her career in college counseling after seeing how much her own son benefited from working with a Steele Street counselor during his last two years of high school. With 11 years in higher education already behind her, she found college planning a perfect fit for her skills.

Dawn is also founder and president of DTO Strategies, a bipartisan public affairs firm covering public and media relations, education policy, brand development, and government relations. Before founding DTO, she spent 11 years as Executive Director of College In Colorado for the state's Department of Higher Education under three governors, leading statewide outreach to help students become postsecondary and workforce-ready. She previously served as Director of Communications for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and as Speechwriter for Governor Bill Owens, and before Colorado, worked in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Assistant and Press Secretary for several U.S. Senators, plus time as a freelance producer for AP Sports Television. A Wyoming native and University of Wyoming graduate in Broadcasting, Dawn lives in Denver with her husband Jim, their two sons, and their French Bulldog, Touchdown.

Specialty Areas

Students Enrolled

University of Kansas, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, University of North Dakota, Western Washington University, Auburn University, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, The University of Alabama, San Diego State University, Montana State University -- Bozeman, University of Denver, University of Minnesota -- Twin Cities, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Wisconsin -- Madison, Suffolk University, Lewis and Clark College, University of Puget Sound, Rochester Institute of Technology, The University of Arizona, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, University of Nebraska -- Lincoln, University of Wyoming, Kansas State University, University of Northern Colorado, Minnesota State University -- Mankato, University of Iowa, University of California, Berkeley, Colorado College, New York University, Pace University, University of Vermont, Washington University in St. Louis, College of William and Mary, Loyola University Chicago, Chapman University, University of San Diego.

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