In May 2020, during the challenging times of the pandemic, Julian joined CAL as an Instructional Consultant. At a critical juncture when CAL was facing the loss of most of its team, Julian stepped in. Fatma Elshobokshy recalls, “It was hectic and critical; every corner of UDC needed support in transitioning to the virtual environment. Julian’s pivotal role significantly advanced UDC’s tech adaptation.” Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Julian’s aptitude, demeanor, and high sense of responsibility made him an essential member of the Center and UDC within just two months of joining. His quick mastery of Blackboard 9.1 and later Ultra, along with his ability to support faculty, earned him rapid respect within the faculty community. Ms. Elshobokshy added, “Mr. King is one of the unsung heroes of the Ultra project. He not only learned the system but also excelled in the Ultra Gradebook, which is when the ‘Gradebook Wiz’ was coined.”

In July 2023, Julian led the certification of UDC’s first course by Quality Matters (QM), achieving a total of nine certified courses to date through coaching faculty. In his new role, Julian will oversee the QM process and mentor faculty in preparing courses for QM certification. He will also train new CAL team members on the QM process to build capacity within the team. Julian is well-known among the CAL team members for his “I got you” attitude. In addition to his primary position, Julian serves as an adjunct faculty member, teaching Discovery Technology.

Before joining UDC, Mr. King was in secondary education, providing coaching, training, and resources to bolster data-driven mathematics instruction and foster community within partnering DC high schools. He holds an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a B.A. in Mathematics: Secondary Education from Virginia Union University.

Please join us in congratulating Julian on his well-deserved promotion at julian.king@udc.edu.