Caskey Russell, an English professor in the UW American Indian Studies Program, has gone through his life learning to do what works best for him, whether it be dropping out of college to be in a band or going back to school to follow his passion for Native American literature.
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Russell began his path in higher education at Western Washington University as a business major. After a few semesters, he decided that college wasn’t as fulfilling as he had previously believed it would be.
Russell spent the next two years playing guitar in his band the Village Idiots and reading in his spare time. When thinking about what other avenues to take with his life, he reflected on his Alaskan-Native American roots that then helped him to find an area of interest in his collegiate studies.
“I remember when I lived at my grandparents’, my grandmother was asking what I was studying, so I named some authors,” said Russell. “I remember her saying, ‘Well, our tribe has a lot stories and authors too. You could study those.’”
After realizing how much he enjoyed reading and writing, Russell decided to return to school to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degree at Western Washington University in American literature and Native American literature. He then went on to receive a Ph.D. at the University of Oregon in the same areas.
Something Russell likes to share with his English students is the span of his experiences striving to get an education. Not all paths into academia are clean-cut and straightforward.
“I think I relate well with students that enter college thinking they want to do one thing because their parents asked them to do it or they’re expected to, and [then] have a little existential crisis [when they] realize they don’t want to do that and don’t know if they want to stay around or if college is for them,” Russell said.
What Russell tries to instill in his students is the fact that they’re in charge of their own lives, they need to set their own expectations and are allowed to do whatever they want to as they move forward.
One of Russell’s colleagues, Director of the American Indian Educational Research and Cultural Center Angela Jaime, feels as though his past experiences have allowed him to become a professor that is able to connect with people as the easy-going man that he is.
“He’s a great instructor, brilliant mind, excellent colleague, somebody who really doesn’t take himself too seriously and is just fantastic with students [and] very likable,” said Jaime.
As Russell continues to work in both the field of English as well as American Indian studies, he is able to incorporate his own lived experiences with his mother’s side of the family. They come from the Tlingit tribe, and the poetry, short stories and novels that have been produced by their people have inspired Russell’s teaching style.
“The fact that he’s been culturally immersed in Indian communities informs who he is,” Peter Parolin, English professor, said. “His ability to live and think between worlds is just one of the things he brings to the table.”
The classes that Russell teaches are often about Native American literature and film, as well as general courses on American literature of the 20th century in the English department. Whatever material he teaches, he always tries to share the things that have impacted him.
“I like exposing students to new literature, new ideas,” Russell said.
Russell has received the John P. Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award, has been the director for American Indian studies and has written countless book chapters and articles for his field of study.
Apart from the accolades and the work Russell has done for both students and the university, he still feels a great need to stay on the path that brings him the greatest joy.
“Life is short, uncertain, and you’ve got to live your life for yourself,” said Russell. “I told my oldest son that; you can’t worry about what other people think.”
