I AM UAA: Kimberly Russell

B.A. Justice '08
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Fun Fact: Volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters

Kimberly Russell was raised in Anchorage and is a 2008 UAA Justice graduate who currently works at McLaughlin Youth Center as a Social Services Associate II. She has been with the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for five years and loves her work. She is a member of the Probation Intake Unit and her job includes scheduling the juvenile court calendars, processing and ensuring that juvenile warrants are cleared, as well as data compilation and handling victim impact statements.

Kimberly loves working with kids and is fascinated with the field of juvenile justice. She is committed to the concept of restorative justice and believes that being proactive, rather than reactive, is the best way to help kids deal with the issues confronting them. Kimberly's goal is to be a Juvenile Probation Officer and contribute to the ongoing mission of the Division of Juvenile Justice-that is, hold juvenile offenders accountable for their actions, promote the safety and restoration of victims and communities, as well as assist offenders and their families in developing skills to prevent crime.

Kimberly was a teen member in Anchorage Youth Court throughout junior high and high school. Today, she volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is on the board for the "Making a Difference" program, a partnership between Volunteers of America, Anchorage Youth Court and DJJ's Diversion Officers. Reflecting back on her time in the Justice program, she notes that Dr. Darryl Wood and Dr. John Riley were the faculty members who most influenced her.

She says with a big smile, "The people I work with are terrific, they make it a joy to be here and be part of the team. I love knowing I'm helping teens make better choices for themselves, their families and the community."