Meagan Russell joined the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering in July 2026 as M.Eng. Program Coordinator, bringing experience in higher education, student support and community-focused project management to the role.
Russell previously worked as a project manager with rural communities in Ohio, helping them prepare for natural disasters. Before that, she worked in higher education at the University of West Florida, where she supported financially disadvantaged students pursuing STEM degrees. Those experiences reinforced for her the importance of relationships and communication, skills she now brings to Cornell.
In her role as M.Eng. program coordinator, Russell supports biomedical engineering M.Eng. students from recruitment through graduation. Her responsibilities include admissions, student support, coordinating the seminar series, industry engagement and alumni outreach, as well as helping students connect with opportunities beyond the classroom.
“I enjoy bringing people together and finding ways to make the student experience even stronger,” she said.
Russell said the warm welcome she has received from the Cornell and Ithaca communities has been a highlight of her first weeks on the job. Most of all, she is looking forward to getting to know the students.
Her approach to supporting students is rooted in a lesson she has carried throughout her career: relationships matter.
“Network, network, network,” Russell said. “Opportunities can often come from connections you build along the way and how you treat people.”
Outside of work, Russell enjoys traveling, experiencing local culture, learning about history, hiking and thrift shopping. She especially enjoys exploring new places with her son, Radley. If she weren’t working in student support, she says she would probably pursue data analytics, combining her love of puzzles and problem-solving with her career.
For Russell, helping others extends beyond the students she directly supports. “Even if you aren’t my student, ask questions,” she said. “If I can’t answer, I can help find a resource.”