J.R. Russell, Ph.D.
IUPUI Director of Early College Entrance
Indianapolis Indiana
Dr. J.R. Russell is the Director of the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) SPAN Division, a post he has held since 1996. The SPAN Division is home to Early College Entrance (ECE) and Accelerated College Immersion (ACI) programs for the Indianapolis campus. Launched in 1984, SPAN is one of the country's oldest and most successful early admission/enrollment programs. ECE and ACI programs provide the opportunity for high ability secondary students to enroll in actual college courses at IUPUI. Russell himself began taking college courses while in high school, at the age of 14. Dr. Russell continues postdoctoral research in higher education as it relates to highly gifted adolescents. While serving at the IUPUI campus, Russell has been active in fostering diversity and encouraging better math, science, engineering, and technology education opportunities for underrepresented populations in early college.