Education & Honors

MIT Astrophysics, B.S.

MIT Planetary Science, M.S.

  • Fellowship

WGU Education, M.A.

  • Science, Technology, and Society Excellence Award

Concordia University, St. Paul, Educational Leadership, Ed.D (partial)

NASA SCoPE Seed Grant

Ted Dunham FAR Grant

Asteroid 33845Aprilrussell

Professional Organizations: AAS, AAPT, Chief, CT Certified Teacher 7-12 Physics & Earth Science, NA-ROAD Governing Council

Experience

Take Space Consulting, LLC — Founder

Developing  engaging, accessible educational content in physics, chemistry, and astronomy, tailored for diverse audiences and learning platforms. This includes bite-sized lessons and interactive resources, to bridge education gaps and inspire self-directed learning, making complex scientific concepts understandable and relevant to everyday life.

Current project is funded by NASA, with partners from SnapInstruct. This AI astrophotography tool is being vetted by NightSkyNetwork volunteers and will be rolled out to the public for free in December.

Clients include: Astronomy magazine, Encyclopedia Britannica, and National Geographic, Savvas, Pearson Publishing, Five Ponds Press, US Department of Education, and the US Department of Defense Education Agency.

Astronomers Without Borders — Chief Executive Officer

Spearheaded innovative projects like the AI telescope setup and observing coach. Revitalized organizational operations by uncovering and addressing critical structural issues. Strategically reallocated budgetary priorities, leading to targeted investments in advertising that enhanced sales and organizational reach.

Khan Academy — Content Developer/SME

Developed online courseware for AP Physics exam as a subject matter expert.

John Wiley & Sons — Senior Project Manager/SME

Subject matter expert and project manager for frontlist titles including Halliday & Resnick. Led an international team of subject matter experts.

Vassar College —Visiting Professor   

Taught Solar System Astronomy and Stellar Astrophysics.

Siena College —Visiting Professor

Taught astronomy, earth science, and physics classes and labs. Wrote grant proposals for telescope time, mentored research students, and presented at colloquia and AAS.

Dudley Observatory —Astronomer

Led astronomy research consortium. Wrote grant proposals and presented data at the IOTA conference. Delivered and facilitated professional development workshops for teachers. Managed partnerships with and delivered programming to local schools.

Publications

Bennett, J. O., Donahue, M. O., Schneider, N., & Voit, M. (2017). The Essential Cosmic Perspective (8th ed.). Pearson.*

Binzel, R.P., Harris, A.W., Bus, S.J., & Burbine, T.H. (2001). Spectral properties of near-Earth objects: Palomar and IRTF results for 48 objects including spacecraft targets (9969) Braille and (10302) 1989 ML. Icarus, 151(2), 139-149.*

Binzel, R.P., Rivkin, A.S., Stuart, J.S., Harris, A.W., Bus, S.J., & Burbine, T.H. (2004). Observed spectral properties of near-Earth objects: Results for population distribution, source regions, and space weathering processes. Icarus, 170(2), 259-204.*

Brunelle, L., & Garrett, J. (2021). Exploring Physical Science: All Around Us Level 6. Five Ponds Press.*

Brunelle, L., & Garrett, J. (2021). Exploring Physical Science: All Around Us Level 7. Five Ponds Press.*

Brunelle, L. & Russell, A. (2021). Exploring Physical Science: All Around Us Level 8. Five Ponds Press. 

Burbine, T.H., & Binzel, R.P. (2002). Small main-belt asteroid spectroscopic survey in the near-infrared. Icarus, 159(2), 468-499.*

Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (Expected 2023.) Fundamentals of Physics: 1e for the P. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.*

Khan Academy. AP/College Physics I. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-college-physics-1 

Russell, A. (2018). Ask the Astronomer. Astronomy. https://astronomy.com/magazine/ask-astro/2018/01/the-moon-and-the-oceans

Russell, A. (2023, October 2). Where is our Solar System’s super-earth? Astronomy Magazine. https://www.astronomy.com/science/where-is-our-solar-systems-super-earth/ 

Salyk, C. & Lewis, K., (2021). Introductory Notes on Planetary Science: The solar system, exoplanets and planet formation. AAS IOP Astronomy*

Slivan, S.M., Hosek, M., Sokol, A., Maynard, S., Payne, A., Radford, A., Springmass, A., Mailhot, E., Midkiff, A., Russell, A., & Stephens R.D. (2016, October 16-21). Spin vectors in the Koronis family: IV. Objects completing the sample to IAU H=10.88 [Poster presentation]. Forty-eighth annual meeting of the AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, Pasadena, CA, United States.

Slivan, S., Hosek, M., Kurzner, M., Sokol, A., Maynard, S., Payne, A., Radford, A., Springmann, A., Binzel, R.P., Wilkin, F.P, Mailhot, E.A., Midkiff, A.H., Russell, A., Stephens, R.D., Gardiner, V., Reichart, D.E., Haislip, J., LaCluyze, V., Behrend, R., & Roy, R. (2023). Spin vectors in the Koronis family: IV. Completing the sample of its largest members after 35 years of study. Icarus, 394. DOI: 115397

Spencer, J.R., Jessup, K.L., McGrath, M.A., Ballester, G.E., & Yelle, R. (2000). Discovery of Gaseous S2 in Io’s Pele Plume. Science, 288(5469), 1208-1210.*

(* Editor/Contributor/Reviewer)