Biography

Julian Owens has managed to create his own lane and brand. Owens is a self-taught pianist, composer, arranger, singer and songwriter. He earned his PhD in 2015 from the University of South Carolina and completed post-doctoral training in Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health. Dr. Owens held research appointments in the Center for Adolescent Health, and Center for Violence Prevention, both based at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Early Life

Birmingham native, Julian D. Owens{23} (1965) was born in Alabama and lived there until the age seventeen. He was raised in church and was an active member of the music department at Sardis Missionary Baptist Church until he left to attend college. The name Julian is of English and Latin origin and means “youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father”. Julian was known as De’Wayne Owens through elementary, middle, and high school. He switched to using his first name in college. His older brother named him J’Dillian {52} by creatively combining his first and middle initials.

Influences

Julian{24} credits his strong faith and social convictions to being born in the mid 60s, and being raised in the church, under the spiritual leadership of his then pastor Rev. Samuel P. Pettagrue, a pioneer in positive youth development in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Julian attends Unity of Washington, DC{1} where Rev. Sylvia Sumter{2}, is Senior Pastor, Unity of Birmingham, where Rev. Jessie Herriott is Senior Pastor, and frequents Alfred Street Baptist Church, where Rev. Dr. Howard John Wesley is Senior Pastor. He credits Amos N. Wilson, Benjamin Mays, Frank Baker,  Michael Rich{3}, John Rich{4}, Paul Tough, and Kimeberlé Williams Crenshaw for helping to shape his perspectives on the social constructions of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. 

Owen{23} utilizes his talents and formal training in the arts & science to promote health, hope & in healing of mind, body, and spirit.

Education

Owens{23} attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts and Ramsay High School, He entered Morehouse College{5} as an early admit student at age 17, and majored in Psychology; he served for two consecutive years on the Morehouse College Board of Trustees{6}. Owens{23} graduated in 1986. In 1991, he entered the University of Michigan School of Public Health, earning his Master of Public Health degree in 1993. He earned his PhD in Teaching and Learning in Columbia’s College of Education, Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Instruction{7}. Owens{23} completed post-doctoral training as a NIMH Ruth L. Kirschstein Fellow{8} at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Discography [Singles, Albums, Collaborations]

Owens’{24} discography includes a catalog of more than 200 original song.

Personal Life

Julian Owens travels frequently throughout the United States, Caribbean, and internationally for leisure, as well as to collaborate on projects and perform for special events. He is an avid tennis player and swimmer, and lifts weight to stay in optimal mental and physical shape.

Career

Early Career

Owens{23} is a certified drug and addiction specialist and mental health provider. Upon completing his undergraduate degree in Psychology, Owens{23} began his professional career as an Addictions Counselor at Bradford Health Services -- a chain of drug and alcohol rehab centers across the state of Alabama.  He returned to graduate school to study public health policy and administration and focused on health informatics and health policy at The University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Mid-Career

Owens{23} relocated to Washington, DC and began working as a Domestic Social Policy Analyst at the Congressional Research Service (CRS) -- a public policy research institute of the United States Congress. Operating within the Library of Congress. CRS works primarily and directly for members of Congress and their committees and staff on a confidential, nonpartisan basis. Owens{23} later hired by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) [JO2] as a Special Expert, advising senior executives and staff at the National Institute Health, United States National Library of Medicine.(NLM). In the late 90’s through the mid 2000s, Julian served as a Special Expert in Outreach and Engagement at the National Library of Medicine.

Owens{23} later joined Andersen Consulting, known today as Accenture, working for U.S. Federal Government, financial and health services clients domestically and in the Middle East. He resigned his position at Accentrure and co-founded Life 20/20{10} in 1999. LIFE 20/20 is a minority owned, boutique-consulting firm that provides health, education & technology solutions via events, products, and services. Owens{23} also co-founded Here’s 2 Life Foundation{11} - a non-profit organization that provides health, education, technical assistance, and promotes health, hope & healing via strategic partnerships.

Today

Julian Owens{23} writes, composes, speaks, and performs original music and cover songs. His alias, J’DIllian, is an inspirational soul recording artist. In addition to performing, writing, composing, and collaborating with other artists, Julian Owens{24} is invited regularly to give presentations about MusicsEnergy: Life Literacy Curriculum™ ME: LLC{16}. This evidence-based intervention consists of Songwriting with Young People™{17}; Reducing Dis-ease in America™{18}; and Messages in Music™{19}, each leveraging the broad appeal of popular youth music and media as content and context for teaching, learning, enrichment, and therapy.