Dr. Julian T. Euell

Dr. Julian Thomas Euell, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, partner, mentor, and friend died unexpectedly at the age of 78 on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Julian and his twin Juliette Euell were born in Harlem (NY) on January 23, 1946, to Julian Thomas, Sr. and Delores Leoita (Brown) Euell.
Julian attended Benjamin Franklin High School (NY) and studied photography and design at Rochester Institute of Technology. He earned degrees in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Cornell University.
As Julian wrote in a piece entitled, Harlem in My Mind: Riffs Towards a Full- Blown Biography, " I wanted to study any area of life that would help me to change my world and myself. Sociology was one of the main intellectual places I went for answers."
At the time of his hiring in the Sociology Department at the start of 1974 academic year, Julian was the only African American professor on campus. In 1980, Dr. Julian Euell became the first African American faculty member to receive tenure at Ithaca College.
He accepted the weight and responsibility of being the first with supreme grace. In fact, over his 46 years of service to the college, he affectionately became known as "Dr. Only." This honorific was given to him as a way for students, friends, and colleagues to honor and acknowledge his journey as well as his never-wavering commitment to expand representation among faculty ranks.
Julian's teaching style and courses were legendary among students and faculty. Always curious, Julian was a self-identified "relentless learner and teacher." He made his life's work and his educational practice about deep inquiry, wondering, and "opening up students to gradual development of their own curriculum of study and inquiry."
His love for learning and teaching is evidenced by the unparalleled number of unique courses taught throughout his tenure at IC. He continued to create new and innovative classes, rarely repeating the same class twice until his retirement.
Julian lived to encourage students to open their own ways of thinking and engaging with the world. Julian used to say that his teaching was like Jazz, creative and responsive to the moment. He thought of the classroom as a vehicle for freedom that could help students "follow the crumbs of ideas, insight, and intuition" to discover their own paths.
Despite retiring in 2020, the impact of Julian's academic rigor, pursuit of justice, and unlimited imagination continues to this day. In recognition of the need for expand curricular offerings and his career long pursuit to increase the number of faculty of color, Julian also helped to create Ithaca College's Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity.
Julian's smile was often the first thing one would notice about him. He was well known for his warmth and ability to light up a room. He enjoyed spending time with family, traveling, and cooking. He was particular about spices and even more particular about the proper vessels used for meal preparation.
He also enjoyed playing musical instruments and, for more than 30 years, he was a student of Aikido, the practice of Tai Chi, and Japanese swordsmanship.
In addition, Julian had a love for the visual arts and published multiple photography books. He was intentional in his focus on the sustainability of local landscapes as well as his desire to capture the lives, livelihoods and lived-experiences of Black people.
There is no way to describe or measure the impact of Julian's presence. To know him was to experience a quiet (at times) and stubborn strength. He possessed an unmatched intellect that will live on with those who were blessed to call him dad, grandad, professor, brother, colleague, friend, and/or Dr. Only.
Dr. Julian Euell was predeceased by his parents, his twin sister, and brother Dana Euell. He is survived by a devoted daughter Johara Euell Malcom and son-in-law Christopher Malcolm; four grandchildren Justin (Jacqueline) Malcolm, Dana (Katherine Velazquez) Malcolm, Aaron (Kaylee) Malcom, and Maya (Patrick Smith) Malcolm; four great-grandchildren Noelle Malcolm, Thais Malcolm, Gael Malcolm, and Aesir Malcolm; a sister Denise Euell; brothers Simeon (Christine King) Euell and Miles (Beverli Wynn-Euell) Euell; his father's spouse Barbara Euell (known as Grandma B); nieces; nephews; and former spouse Mary (Brian Gollands) Euell.
It gives the family some peace to know that as Julian transitioned, he was at home with his partner Cha Roberts and sharing one of his infectious and legendary surges of laughter.
The family asks that any donations be made to fund created in Julian's honor. You can donate to the "Professor Julian Euell Fund" at Ithaca College - https://alumni.ithaca.edu/pages/donation-pages/professor-julian-euell. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Julian, please visit our floral store.