Julian Capel, Ed.D

Dr. Julian Capel is a former student-athlete turned scholar. His passion for mentorship and development is fueled by his own student-athlete experiences. As a former member of the basketball team at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), he understands the demanding lifestyle of being a student athlete. His time at VCU helped him realize that the probability of him pursuing a professional basketball career was unlikely. Upon this realization, he began pursuing opportunities to foster other talents outside of basketball and provide guidance for those with similar paths.

Dr. Capel is a visionary speaker, advisor, mentor, and leader dedicated to encouraging positive change among college students. He uses a dynamic approach that includes energy and creativity, along with his ability to connect and engage with a variety of audiences. His presentations on leadership development, resiliency, career development, social media etiquette, and customer service have been featured on college campuses and at conferences.

He is currently serving as the Student and Community Outreach Director at a flagship university. In this role, he provides leadership opportunities and oversees strategic University programs and initiatives. Additionally, he provides students with resources and programs to engage and enhance their experience at the university and in the community. Dr. Capel also leads initiatives focused on male students retention.   

Prior to his current role, Dr. Capel served as the Director of Student Engagement at Historically Black Institution/College (HBCU) . He led a department that planned and implemented co-curricular programming for residential and off-campus students. At the same time, he worked closely with students, faculty, and staff to encourage student engagement through a variety of activities and programs, primarily focusing on self-efficacy, cultural diversity, and student success.

In 2006 and 2008 respectively, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Sports Management Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2018, he earned his Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Fayetteville State University. In 2016, Dr. Capel was recognized by the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as the Dr. Dave Pariser Faculty Mentor Award winner for his dedication to supporting and mentoring student-athletes’ lifelong learning, competition, and well-being.