Faye Julian earned the bachelor’s (1959) at Tennessee Tech and the MA (1962) and PhD (1977) from UT. Her 1977 doctorate was the first awarded by the College of Communications. She moved to Knoxville with her husband, WJ Julian, who was appointed director of bands in 1961.
Following completion of the master’s degree, she joined the English Department faculty as an instructor, teaching English and speech courses and coaching the debate team. In the 1970s and ’80s, she also taught theater courses and was director of UT’s Children’s Theater. During those years, she wrote, adapted, and directed numerous children’s plays for UT Theaters.
Julian continued teaching and working as an administrator in the College of Arts and Sciences—including serving as head of the Department of Speech Communication—until 1995, when she was appointed associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs. In 1996 she was named dean for undergraduate academic affairs and director of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence in the office of the vice chancellor for academic affairs. In 2002 she was appointed the first dean of the newly formed College of Communication and Information.
While at UT, Julian was a member of the board of trustees’ Student Affairs Committee, chaired UT’s Undergraduate Council for five years, served two terms on the UT Faculty Senate, three years on the University Tenure/Promotion Committee, two terms on the Teaching Council, and was a member of the Commission for Women for three terms. She also was a member of the steering committee for UT’s 1994 21st Century Campaign.
Julian was selected as a UT Woman of Achievement for Outstanding Accomplishments in 1980. She received a Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Public Service in 1997, and in 2004 she was chosen as the Commission for Women’s Notable UT Woman of Distinction in recognition of outstanding accomplishments as an administrator. She received the Donald Hileman award from the College of Communication and Information in 2009.
Dr. Julian was president of the Tennessee Speech Communication Association, which in 1996 named her Communication Educator of the Year. She was also president of UT’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.
She retired in 2005.