Russell Stevens

Head of Programs (co-founder Cortico)

As head of programs at MIT’s Center for Constructive Communication (CCC), Russell develops field programs that apply CCC’s methods for understanding today’s media ecosystems and promoting constructive dialogue across boundaries. Russell helped CCC director Deb Roy launch the center – then known as the Lab for Social Machines – in 2014. In 2016 he co-founded, with Roy and Eugene Yi, the social technology non-profit Cortico, which aims to bring underheard voices to the center of a stronger public dialogue.

Before joining MIT, Russell spent 15 years at the strategic communications agency SS+K, guiding the company’s consulting group and business development operations and advising brand, political and non-profit clients. Russell has advised several Boston-area startups, including the social TV analytics company Bluefin Labs from its inception in 2008 to its acquisition by Twitter in 2013.

He holds an M.P.P. from Harvard’s Kennedy School and a B.A. in government from Dartmouth College.

Russell is the husband, father, son and nephew of public school teachers … the father of two terrific daughters … and the attendant to two active dogs.

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