Intern, Mentor, Leader: Abby Russell’s Full-Circle Career in Humanitarian Service

For alumnus Abigail (Abby) Russell, her job at the American Red Cross is the extension of a career that began in graduate school. “I was in the dual degree program,” Abby recalled. “I did a Master’s in Social Work and a Master’s in International Human Rights. And because I also completed Korbel’s Humanitarian Assistance Certificate, I needed internship hours for all three.” Her solution? To use the Korbel School’s Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) to facilitate an introduction to one of the world's most renowned humanitarian organizations. That conversation with the Red Cross was the catalyst for a career of community-driven impact. 

As a graduate student, she worked with the Red Cross’s Disaster Cycle Services department, but her internship quickly evolved. “The director of the Service to the Armed Forces and International Services department found out about me and asked me to join her team, too,” Abby said. “She gave me all the training I needed to teach international humanitarian law, which became my second role there.” Abby ended up balancing two Red Cross internships across different departments, applying her dual training in real-time.

At the University of Denver’s School of Social Work, Abby would make another pivotal career move. She joined a faculty-led program called the Bosnian Transition, which was designed to be an immersive, short-term educational trip. But after learning so much about Bosnia during her time working under the School of Social Work’s Professor Ann Petrila, she decided to stay. “I packed everything up, left Denver, and moved to Bosnia without a job lined up. I just knew I wanted to be part of that community long-term.” 

Within weeks, she was working with the Srebrenica Memorial Center and a women’s empowerment organization called Nahla. And when Professor Petrila brought new student groups to Bosnia, Abby stepped in as a field supervisor. “It was my first time officially mentoring graduate-level interns,” she said. “It’s not just about helping them complete tasks, it’s about supporting their professional development, connecting them to the local context, and continuing to guide them after the internship ends.” 

When Abby moved back to Colorado, her previous experiences facilitated by Korbel and the School of Social Work made her a shoo-in for full-time work with the Red Cross. Today, she’s the regional program manager for the local Colorado and Wyoming office, helping with their national effort called Community Mobilization. “We’ve been working on networking, expanding, and adapting our programs to fit into local communities across the United States better,” she said. “And then mobilizing those communities to be more independent and self-sustainable.” 

Abby also supervises Korbel students who are interning with the Red Cross through the AmeriCorps internship program. “When I was first asked to supervise AmeriCorps interns, I said yes immediately,” Abby said. “It felt like a perfect opportunity to give back, not just to Korbel and the Red Cross, but to the next generation of humanitarian professionals.”

That full-circle moment—going from intern to supervisor, student to mentor—reflects the real-world impact of a Korbel education. Abby’s story shows that graduate study at Korbel isn’t just about academic theory. It’s about building the skills, relationships, and values that lead directly to global careers. 

For prospective students wondering whether Korbel is the right fit, Abby offers a clear answer: “The support is always there. From faculty mentors to internship connections, I never felt alone. If you’re driven to make a difference, locally or globally, Korbel opens the doors. You just have to walk through them.”