Stephen Russell
Professor and Chair, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
Topics of expertise- Adoption & Foster Care
- Aging
- Gender & Sexuality
- History & Trends on Gender, Marriage & Family Life
- LGBTQ Partnering & Families
Phone: 512-471-0753
Email: stephen.russell@utexas.edu
Stephen Russell joined the faculty in Human Development and Family Sciences and the Population Research Center in the summer of 2015. His research focuses on adolescent development, with particular emphasis on adolescent sexuality, LGBT youth, and parent-adolescent relationships. His work is guided by a strong commitment to creating social change in support of healthy adolescent development.
Russell is especially proud of research that has contributed to shaping local and state policies and laws aimed at improving school safety. He finds his most rewarding work to be with trainees, including postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates. He considers mentoring and learning from these emerging scholars to be one of the most fulfilling aspects of his role.
Throughout his career, Russell has been active in both community and professional organizations. He has served as a Human Relations Commissioner in Durham, NC; Davis, CA; and Tucson, AZ. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). His professional leadership also includes serving as an elected board member of the National Council on Family Relations (2005–2008) and as Past-President of the Society for Research on Adolescence.