About Dr. Xu
Dr. Yan Xu
Project and program management expert, tenured professor, and administrative director at Spelman College.
At a glance
- Tenured Professor, Spelman College
- Administrative Director, Spelman College
- PMI-authorized training partner instructor
- CAPM® and PMP® exam preparation specialist
- Youth leadership and college admissions coach
Dr. Yan Xu has spent her career at the intersection of rigorous scholarship and real-world delivery. As a tenured professor and administrative director at Spelman College, she leads academic programs and institutional initiatives while continuing to practice and teach the discipline she loves: project and program management.
She founded Dr. Xu Consulting to make that discipline accessible far beyond the classroom. For working adults and career changers, she teaches accelerated, exam-focused CAPM® bootcamps built around PMI-created materials and a 95% first-time pass rate. For students and families, she offers academic support, college admission and essay coaching, and leadership brand building — the same tools she uses to prepare undergraduates for competitive careers.
Her approach is consistent across audiences: clarity about the goal, structure to get there, and honest, personalized guidance along the way. Participants come away not only with a credential or an acceptance letter, but with a way of working — planning, prioritizing, communicating — that compounds for the rest of their careers.
“Credentials get you considered. Leadership gets you chosen. We prepare people for both.”