From the Berkshires to the edge of the Bering Sea, Emily Russell '07's career path has been anything but linear. With a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from Bates College and a master’s in Arctic policy from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Russell’s goal was to pursue a career in academia, but a giant leap of faith into the world of public radio changed everything.

Now with over a decade of experience in journalism, Emily has been reporting for North Country Public Radio (NCPR) in northern New York since 2019. Her reporting covers everything from Olympic sports and outdoor recreation to issues like public land management and criminal justice. Her work is frequently featured nationally on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered. When she isn't behind the microphone or out in the field, you can find her trail running through the Adirondacks with her rescue dog, Dax.

We caught up with Emily to discuss her journey into public radio and how her time at Berkshire helped prepare her for a life in storytelling.

You moved to Alaska in 2012 for a Master's degree and a few years later, moved to a far more remote part of the state to start in radio. What was that like? 
As wild as it sounds, moving to Nome—a tiny community on the edge of the Bering Sea—to abandon a career in academia and begin a brand new one in radio journalism didn’t feel as scary as it sounds. I had made a far bigger leap of faith three years earlier when I moved from New York to Fairbanks, Alaska, to pursue a master’s in Arctic policy. At that time, I had never been to Alaska and didn’t know anyone there. 

That move instilled so much confidence in me, knowing that I could follow a passion into the unknown and emerge on the other side happier and more fulfilled. So, when my passion shifted from Arctic policy to public radio, moving a few hundred miles west to Nome felt like the natural next step. 

Is there a particular story or project from your work at NCPR that has been especially meaningful?

My favorite stories to tell are profiles—intimate portraits of people who, for some reason or another, play an important role in their local community. Five years ago, I had the privilege of telling Robbi Mecus’s story. She had a decades-long career as a New York State Forest Ranger, playing a crucial role in some of the most challenging and dangerous rescues in the Adirondack Mountains. 

When she was in her 40s, Robbi came out as a trans woman. As a law enforcement officer living and working in a conservative region, Robbi saw coming out as a big risk, but one she knew she had to make. She was pleasantly surprised when her community accepted and embraced her. Robbi became an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and was living a bold and beautiful life. NCPR published her story in Jan. 2021, and we heard from so many people about how powerful her story was. Then, in April 2024, while ice climbing in Alaska, Robbi was killed in a climbing accident. She was 52 years old and left behind a young daughter. Her death was felt deeply here in the Adirondacks, by her family, friends, fellow rangers, and so many others, myself included. I still think about her often and am just grateful to have known her and helped share part of her life’s story.

What advice would you give to someone interested in a journalism career?
Take risks, be willing to relocate to gain experience, and stay humble. Before I began my career in radio, I had never written for a school newspaper or worked at a radio station. I didn’t earn a degree in journalism or take any classes directly relevant to the career I have today. But what I did do was hone my writing skills, starting at Berkshire, then Bates, and then at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

I was also willing to relocate and learn on the job, which has been key to my career. In my first three years in journalism, I lived in three different places in Alaska. In the beginning, you’re not going to be good at your job. But if you work with the right people and listen to great radio (or read great journalism), you’ll continue to get better. That’s truly one of the joys of journalism— there is no ceiling to how good you can become.

How did your time at Berkshire prepare you for the work you do today?
I became a journalist to help tell the stories of people who you might never hear about. That’s still a driving force behind the work I do today, more than a decade into my career. I think my curiosity about other people’s lives and cultures began when I was at Berkshire. Spending four years with people from different cities and countries, and from different socioeconomic backgrounds, opened my eyes to how big and diverse the world is. But it also revealed how wonderfully small it can feel. When you’re living and studying and playing sports and having fun with people from so many different backgrounds, you’re able to empathize so much more with them.

What are your fondest Berkshire memories? 
When I think back on the four years I spent at Berkshire––a period now 20 years in the rearview mirror––my fondest memories were with my friends. I can’t pinpoint a specific memory that stands out, but rather a feeling of closeness that’s nearly impossible to replicate in adulthood. I started at Berkshire when I was just 13 years old. That move is still one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. But I was going through it with so many other people, navigating a new world, new routines, new challenges together. I think that brought me so much closer to my classmates, particularly the girls in Godman and Spurr. That feeling of closeness with the friends I made is truly my fondest memory from my four years at Berkshire.