Drew Russo ’03

Well-known on campus during his student days, Drew Russo has remained an engaged alum and a fixture on the volunteer scene over the past 20 years. During his time at St. Mike’s, the Poli Sci and English double major participated in MOVE, served as a class officer, and was on the senior class gift committee.

After graduating in 2003, Drew went into the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, serving as the program manager and lunch coordinator at the NOAH Project in Detroit. He then returned to his hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts, and was an active member of the Boston Alumni Club, helping to plan and organize alumni events in the area. He’s co-chaired every single reunion since graduating and in non-reunion years, he’s served as a class agent, encouraging his classmates to support the College. He’s also been a panelist for the Boston Career Planning and Networking Seminar for students and hosted multiple Purple and Gold Day socials in Lynn. He’s been on the Government, Law and Policy panel for the 2019 Career Symposium, the College’s largest in-person annual career exploratory event for students. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also helped Admissions, staffing college fairs as a young alum.

In his professional life, Drew is the personnel director for the City of Lynn. Prior to that, he was the District Outreach Director for US Congressman John Tierney, and before that, he worked in the development office at St. Mary’s High School, his other alma mater. You can add a third alma mater to his résumé, because just this past month, Drew graduated with a master’s in public administration from Clark University. Congrats! He has also volunteered as Vice President of the Lynn Community Health Center and President of Campfire North Shore.

Drew is here with his wife, Patricia. His sister, Sarah, is a 2006 grad. Drew credits fellow awardee Ed Calnan’s sister and Purple Knight Bridget Muholland, Class of 1995, for introducing him to Saint Michael’s, as she was his English teacher at St. Mary’s right after she graduated from SMC.

Drew Russo is an alumni director’s dream – easy to work with, says yes to pretty much everything that’s asked of him, and has a deep love and affection for St. Mike’s. When asked about his lasting feelings for this place, this was his answer:

“For nearly 25 years, my affiliation with this College has been a source of joy, lasting friendships, steadfast support, spiritual sustenance, and unwavering pride. Our community has never failed to be a lever that lifts me up, and I am so deeply honored and humbled to be a member of it.”

The Saint Michael’s College Alumni Association is proud to name Drew Russo a 2023 Alumnus of the Year.