Jessica Russo

Work Title and Work Place

• Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies as an Adjunct Lecturer

• Senior Associate, Data Visualization at NRDC

Courses Being Taught Presently and/or in the Past

• LBSCI 720: Data Analysis and Visualization

• DESN 395: Senior Capstone - BFA Design

Academic Statement

I possess a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and a Master of Professional Studies from Maryland Institute College of Art. My thesis, "Beyond Crisis: Lives Saved" an online resource of information and resources on the opioid crisis, won the Capstone Prize and an Information is Beautiful Award. My academic training combines rigorous statistical methods with human-centered design principles, equipping me to guide students in translating complex data sets into compelling narratives. 

In my professional practice as Senior Data Visualization Associate at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), I lead the design and development of high-impact visual communications on transportation equity, clean energy investment, and housing justice. I designed the Clean RIDES Network website, which was featured by the Associated Press and over a dozen news outlets, and produced district-level and state-level fact sheets defending the Inflation Reduction Act—materials now used by environmental advocacy partners nationwide. My work synthesizes policy research, spatial analysis, and interactive web design to inform decision-makers and the public.

My teaching philosophy centers on “data with purpose”: I encourage students to ground every visualization in real-world questions, to interrogate assumptions, and to prioritize clarity and accessibility. I draw on her experience working with nonprofits and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to prepare graduates for careers in journalism, advocacy, and design-forward data strategy.