UNIONDALE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 6, 2026 / Marquis Who's Who honors Capt. Rosalind Lee Russell for a lifetime commitment to service. She is a clinical social worker and served as the director of social work for Texas College for 30 years. Capt. Russell is a native Texan, retired, and a U.S. Air Force veteran.

A Career Born Out of Family Tragedy

Capt. Russell embarked on her career path due to personal reasons. Her brother suffered a mental breakdown at the young age of 25 years and this event inspired her to pursue a medical career.

At first, Capt. Russell attempted to enter the nursing profession, but the required classes were full at the start of the semester. She decided to enter another area of medicine instead, embarking on a psychology degree. It was when speaking with a social worker that she recognized that if she were to enter the psychology field, her options would be limited. If she were instead to switch to social work and obtain a master's degree, she would have more flexibility and job opportunities. It was a fortuitous move because she has enjoyed her career in social work. She was also able to do clinical work, which is what she intended to do while pursuing a psychology career.

Capt. Russell earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from San Francisco State University in 1975 and a master's degree in social welfare, mental health and pupil personnel credential from the University of California Berkeley in 1977. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Social Work degree.

A Lifetime of Dedication to Social Work

After graduation. Capt. Russell entered the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer with the rank of first lieutenant. She served as a clinical social worker in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps and credits her service for instilling in her the values of service and resilience. She was promoted to the rank of captain nine months after joining the military and served in the U.S. Air Force Behavior Science Corps. Capt. Russell was granted an honorable discharge in 1981.

Since departing the military, Capt. Russell has dedicated her career to social work and has made a significant impact on her field. She has more than four decades of experience, with roles that span from social worker to consultant to director.

Capt. Russell helped found the Unbiased Nonsexist Interethnic Training and Education (UNITE) nonprofit organization with six other women. She also founded the East Texas Association of Black Social Workers and the Addie E. McFarland Foundation, both nonprofit organizations.

Dedicated to Helping Others

For more than 30 years, Capt. Russell has held the roles of associate professor at Texas College and, in 2021, was appointed as director of the Department of Social Work. In 2025, the Council of Social Work Education granted the program accreditation due to Capt. Russell's leadership.

Capt. Russell was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her volunteer service. She was also awarded the official President's Volunteer Service Award by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and presented with a personalized Certificate of Achievement, a letter signed by the president, a gold medallion and a personalized crystal round paperweight. Likewise, she was granted an Honorary Doctorate in 2025, a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 and Lifetime Legacy Award in 2025, sponsored by the Prophetic Flow Ministries.

Marquis Who's Who honors Capt. Russell for her exemplary contributions to her community and profession by including her in Marquis Who's Who of Professional Women and bestowing her their Lifetime Achievement Award.

About Marquis Who's Who^®:

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America^®, Marquis Who's Who^® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America^® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis^® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who^® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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SOURCE: Marquis Who's Who