Tamara Russell 

Tamara Russell is an equity-driven leader, restorative justice practitioner, and educator whose work centers healing, access, and belonging. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, she currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Wellness & Community Engagement at Jefferson Community and Technical College, where she leads wellness initiatives, supervises diversity and belonging programs, and builds strategic partnerships that support student success and institutional transformation.

With over a decade of experience across higher education, nonprofit leadership, and community organizing, Tamara’s approach to change-making is grounded in justice and care. Her work spans restorative practices, peace studies, and community education, always with a focus on cultivating ecosystems where people are seen, heard, and valued. She draws inspiration from frameworks such as Critical Love and the Beloved Community—concepts she has woven together to guide her work with students, colleagues, and community partners alike.

Through the Acosta Institute Fellowship, Tamara hopes to deepen her healing-centered leadership practice and explore new ways to integrate wellness, justice, and community care into institutional systems. She joins the Fellowship as both learner and leader, eager to grow alongside a collective of changemakers who see the state of the world as an opportunity for transformation, restoration, and love in action.