Dr. Kareem Russell currently serves as the Director of the McNair Scholars Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Before taking on this role, Kareem previously served as the Assistant Director of the TRIO STEM-H (SSS) Program at the same institution of higher learning. Kareem’s experience includes launching two new federally-funded grant programs and he has over fourteen years of experience in secondary education and the postsecondary arena.

Prior to UAB, Kareem’s previous positions include serving as a Biology Instructor, Academic Advisor, Student Success Advocate, Senior Biology Laboratory Instructor, Biology Tutor, and 8th-grade Physical Science Teacher. Kareem earned his Doctorate degree in Education specializing in Higher Education Administration from Argosy University in Atlanta, Georgia. His dissertation focused on “African American Department Chairs and Modern Leadership Styles.” He also received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees both from Alabama State University in Biology and Biology Education. In the past, Kareem previously served as the Strategic Planning Committee Chair for AAEOPP and currently serves on the SAEOPP Faculty training team. He is Trio alumni, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, and is from Mobile, Alabama.