Michaela Russell

Hi! My name is Michaela and I use she/her pronouns. It brings me joy to provide encouragement and create safe spaces for students to explore skills, passions, values, and interests.

During college I worked on campus, volunteered, held two internships and balanced multiple student org leadership roles and commitments – I was always busy. Being involved with my community is important and fulfilling to me, plus, it’s how I’ve met some of my closest friends! However, I also often found myself anxious and overwhelmed by the pressure to try to do it all, on top of coursework and other responsibilities. I rarely talked about mental health with friends, family, staff, and faculty, and didn’t always know how to ask for help when I needed it most. I wish I would have known sooner that it’s okay to not be okay, and there are many folks and resources available to support mental health and wellbeing. Eliminating stigma surrounding mental health and wellbeing, and creating a culture of care are incredibly important to me today.

I always thought I needed to know exactly what I wanted to do with my career by the time I graduated college. Right after graduation, I moved to Colorado to pursue a 6-month internship at a nonprofit organization, but when the internship ended, I didn’t have a concrete plan and felt pretty lost regarding my next steps. I worked multiple part-time jobs, moved twice and pursued another internship while I explored my options. I mistakenly thought I had failed, but over time I found incredible relief in focusing on pursuing the next right thing, and learning as I go. Since then, I’ve worked in the nonprofit sector and higher education, and in each role, I’ve tried to ask myself how my skills are being utilized, what I’m learning and liking (or disliking), as well as what aspects of the workplace culture I enjoy and value. I am thrilled to be at Macalester, and walk with students as they ask these same questions on their own career journey.

When I’m not at work, you can usually find me spending time with my spouse and our dog, Buddy! I enjoy exploring antique stores and love getting together with friends and family for game nights and trivia. Minnesota summers are the best, and I try to soak up all the time I can outside – hiking, swimming, camping, and gardening are just a few of my favorite activities. I also love to cook and bake, especially when I can try new recipes with ingredients from my garden.