Julian DeShazier

Contact information

Field of Study: Worship, Ministry

Email: jdeshazier@mccormick.edu

Department: Experiential Education

Extension: 6340

Office: 325

Julian serves as the Director of Experiential Education and is affiliate faculty at McCormick, co-teaching the MIN-404/405 courses.

Before joining the McCormick family, Julian began as Senior Minister at University Church Chicago in 2010, where he still serves as pastor in conjunction with this role. 

A Chicago native and graduate of both Morehouse College and the University of Chicago Divinity School, Julian is a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow (since 2020), recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as “40 Under 40” Leaders in Chicago, and has worked extensively with University of Chicago Medicine (serving as inaugural chair of its Community Advisory Council) and Forum for Theological Exploration. 

Julian is also an Emmy Award-winning hip-hop artist, known to many as “J.Kwest.” He is a regular contributor to The Christian Century and serves on the board of the Southside Healthy Community Organization.

“I am excited to help students connect their time in the classroom with experiences already in their body and contexts they’ve never experienced before, all to the building of more reflective leaders in the Beloved Community!”