Dr. Michael Russell, Chairman of the Marketing department at St. Bonaventure University, has dedicated years of experience and knowledge of the world of marketing, business and advertising to his students. Russell is into his 29th year as a member of the St. Bonaventure community, starting out in the fall of 1984 as a professor.
Russell, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, obtained his undergraduate, graduate degree and Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University. He graduated with his Ph.D. in the School of Business in 1990. Russell said he chose marketing after doing a lot of work with his father, who worked in sales and marketing. “I thought it would be a good thing for me pursue, especially after seeing my dad work in that field,” he said.
Before Russell worked at St. Bonaventure, he worked as an independent sales representative. He also served as both a police officer and a high school teacher in Chicago, after graduating from college.
Russell said that he loves being a professor because of the close relationships the faculty has with the students. “At a smaller campus like ours, we have the opportunity to really connect with our students on an academic and personal level,” he said. “We get to know each and every student very well.”
Russell also said that it’s rewarding for him to see his students move on to graduates and pursue jobs in their field. “Whether they end up going into the marketing field or not, it’s great to see them go from students to graduates, and have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned at St. Bonaventure,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to know that we helped prepare them for the real world.”
Russell said that the marketing program at St. Bonaventure sends students out into the community to get first-hand experience. “Students in my classes do community based projects, where they work for local businesses and organizations by doing advertising campaigns and other projects,” he said. “It’s one of the many benefits of being at a smaller school.”
Russell also said that working at a smaller campus is beneficial because he has had the opportunity to do a lot of different things. While also serving as the Chairman of the Marketing department, Russell said that he also got to participate in abroad programs in both England and China, as well as working with graduate students looking to obtain their MBA.
Russell currently resides near Ashville, New York. His wife works as an administrator at Jamestown Community College. They have two daughters, who are both married. Russell recently became a grandfather. “It’s pretty great to be able to look back on your life and see all your accomplishments,” he said. “I’m pretty content with mine.”
