Russell, Katherine

Bio

Dr. Katherine Russell is Associate Dean in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at University of Maryland. As the senior administrator for undergraduate education in the College, she oversees all aspects of education for 5000 students in 10 majors, eight minors, and four living-learning programs. 

Dr. Russell is a graduate of Harvard College where she studied biological anthropology and first participated in anthropology research and fieldwork.  Her published research focuses on age-related changes in human bones and teeth and their forensic and demographic applications. She earned a PhD in Biomedical Sciences - Biological Anthropology from Kent State University.

Dr. Russell is former Honors College Associate Director and Banneker/Key Scholarship Executive Coordinator at Maryland where she oversaw the recruitment, selection, and programming for the top undergraduate merit scholars on campus. She is also former Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology.  Prior to moving to Maryland, she was Assistant Professor of Biology at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth where she taught Anatomy and Physiology, co-directed science, math, and engineering programs for middle school girls, and co-chaired the Premedical Advisory Committee. While a graduate student, Dr. Russell taught human gross anatomy to medical students at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. She also served as a research assistant for forensic cases in Ohio and served on the Massachusetts Mass Disaster Team. She is married to Dr. George L. Askew and is the parent of Morgan Askew (Maryland ’15) and Ian Askew.