Russell was a distinguished professor and Fitch Nesbitt Endowed Chair in Family and Consumer Sciences at University of Arizona from 2007 to 2015.
He was an assistant specialist in cooperative extension in the department of human and community development at the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from 1999 to 2001.
Russell was a distinguished visiting professor of human sexuality studies at San Francisco State University from 2001 to 2008.
Russell served as the distinguished professor and Fitch Nesbitt Endowed Chair in Family and Consumer Sciences at UA from 2007 to 2015.
He was also the director of the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families and an affiliated faculty member in sociology, psychology, gender and women’s studies, school of mind, brain, and behavior.
Russell states that his "research is guided by a commitment to create social change to support healthy adolescent development.