After graduating from WHS, Julie attended Hope College and, due to her commitment to at-risk youth, taught school in inner-city Detroit. This was just the beginning of a career committed to youth development. She went on to lead youth-related organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater St. Louis, Children's Advocacy Center of St. Louis, and has been a K-12 administrator. While raising three young daughters, Maire-Turner completed her PhD and has since devoted her career to helping others seek careers in the nonprofit sector by serving as Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Administration at Lindenwood University. Maire-Turner has been recognized in the 40 Under 40 program of the St. Louis Business Journal, the Dove Award for Outstanding Women in Leadership, the Nonprofit Executive Award, and has also spearheaded a number of regional and national youth development initiatiives, including serving as one of the founders of her children's school, Westgate Christian Academy. Dr. Turner lives in the St. Louis, MO area with her husband and three daughters.