Valerie Russo, assistant dean of students for training and resources and director of Violence Prevention Programs, has resigned from the University of Idaho.
Russo has accepted a new position with Alliance Family Services in Moscow where she will be a full-time counselor.
“It’s time to do what I’ve been working toward doing, which is the counseling piece,” Russo said. “I’m excited to be able to stay in the community and still work in the community and service and be able to provide counseling. It’s a good move. I’ll miss the university but I’m very excited about my new journey.”
Dean of Students Bruce Pitman said the Dean of Students office will lose a “highly respected colleague” in Russo.
“We’re going to lose a person who has many years of experience in a very difficult area,” Pitman said.
Russo’s work with UI has included the development and expansion of the Violence Prevention Program, as well as the implementation of alcohol programming, advocacy, and the Brotherhood Empowered Against Rape (BEAR).
“Much of what I do is responding and coordinating service and resources for students that come forward that are dealing with issues of sexual violence, or dating violence — stalking, harassment, those kinds of issues,” Russo said.
Russo joined the university 16 years ago as a part-time sexual assault program coordinator.
“I moved here because I just loved the area, and I actually didn’t even have a job,” Russo said. “I saw the job in the paper one day and it should have just said ‘Dear Val, we have a job for you at the university’ because it was perfect.”
Russo obtained her bachelor’s degree from Evergreen College in Olympia, Wash., in human development. She then earned her master’s in clinical psychology from Antioch in Santa Barbara, Calif., and finally her doctorate in higher education administration with an emphasis in counseling and health and wellness from the University of Idaho.
“It feels very special to me to be able to sit with people in their dark moments,” Russo said. “I’m looking forward to working one-on-one with folks. The idea of doing counseling and having that role appeals to me. It’s what I’ve been working toward.”
Russo finished her doctoral degree in 2008, earned her counseling license in 2009, and became certified as a life coach in 2010.
Russo said it’s time to use her education to pursue her passion — counseling.
“I’m happy. I’m sad that I’m leaving, but it’s all good. It’s personal growth and professional development,” Russo said. “I think it’ll be interactive and energizing. I feel excited, it’s truly my passion.”
Russo’s experience in counseling and violence prevention was valuable for the university this fall and helped many students understand the violence that occurred, Pitman said.
“It’s been an incredibly unusual year for the kind of violence that we saw,” Pitman said. “She provided an incredibly valuable support to some students who were grieving, some students who were trying to make sense of the violence and trying to make sense of the life that was lost.”
Pitman said Russo will be greatly missed by the university as they begin the search to fill her position. He said it will be difficult to find someone who has the same level of expertise as Russo.
“One of the realities of people in the helping profession is that they ultimately use up all of their emotional resources and they need a change,” Pitman said. “She’s provided a great service, and I understand that desire and need to make a change.”
Russo will not be far from the university, her new office will be located on Sixth Street.
“Valerie has been very innovative in creating education strategies and prevention strategies. We’ll be losing someone who has a lot of experience helping victims and their families. She’ll be difficult to replace,” Pitman said.
Russo said she will still keep an eye on the university, and will be willing to keep in contact with students who have connected with her on campus.
“I’ll miss the students, I love the students. My favorite part of being here on campus was the students,” Russo said. “Anyone who knows me knows I always said the students are my boss.”