Full Biography – Dr. Julian Owens, Ph.D., MPH
Dr. Julian Owens, Ph.D., MPH, is an educator, behavioral scientist, entrepreneur, and musician whose work bridges management, behavioral health, and the arts. He is the author of MusicsEnergy: An Essential Guide to Engaging Young People in the aiGeneration and the creator of the 4D Framework for Naming and Framing Dilemmas™ — a practical model that helps individuals and organizations align intentionally and purposefully when navigating complex challenges.
A Birmingham, Alabama native, Dr. Owens began his lifelong engagement with music in the church and formal arts education, becoming a self-taught pianist, composer, arranger, singer, and songwriter. He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Morehouse College, followed by a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. In 2015, he earned his Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from the University of South Carolina, completing post-doctoral training in mental health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He held research appointments in the Center for Adolescent Health and the Center for Violence Prevention, applying evidence-based interventions to support youth development and public health initiatives.
Dr. Owens’ professional experience spans more than three decades in leadership roles across the public and private sectors. He served as a Domestic Social Policy Analyst at the Congressional Research Service, a Special Expert at the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine, and a management consultant and executive at Accenture. In 1999, he co-founded LIFE 20/20, a boutique consulting firm providing health, education, and technology solutions, and later established the Here 2 LIFE Foundation, a nonprofit supporting culturally relevant education and behavioral health interventions for children, youth, and families.
“As I often tell my students, whether in business, public health, or music, clarity of intention is everything. Once you know your goals and values, you can face dilemmas wherever they arise — at work, at home, or in the community — with purpose and integrity.”
Dr. Owens’ creative work spans more than 200 original songs and collaborations under his own name and as the inspirational soul artist J’Dillian. His music emphasizes storytelling, reflection, and resilience, often intersecting with his work in education and behavioral health. Through MusicsEnergy™ and the JMU Online Academy and Platform, he equips school personnel, youth-serving professionals, parents, and community leaders with tools to engage young people meaningfully, integrating critical thinking, values-driven decision-making, and therapeutic education.
He is also a sought-after speaker, workshop facilitator, and consultant, integrating his research, music, and applied frameworks to help leaders, managers, and organizations navigate routine and complex ethical and social dilemmas where values and intentions matter, especially in times of great uncertainty. His signature 4D Framework — Dialogue, Discover, Discern, and Decide™ — serves as a guide for intentional, values-driven leadership across business, education, nonprofits, and public health.
An avid tennis player, biker, swimmer, and lifelong learner, Dr. Owens maintains an active presence in music, community engagement, and scholarship. Through his teaching, consulting, and creative endeavors, he advances a mission rooted in hope, healing, and innovation, preparing individuals and organizations to lead with integrity, empathy, and clarity in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.