Staff Profile of Beth Russell: Event Planning Part of Job to Keep Dean's Office Running Smoothly
Posted on 1/30/2008
She's traveled internationally, rubbed shoulders with celebrities, has her name on a wall at the Clinton Presidential Library – and she's still in her 20s.
Marshall Saviers and Beth Russell were crowned king and queen at a Mardi Gras party.
Beth Russell earned a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from the University of Mississippi, and she's using that knowledge and her past job experience both professionally and personally. As assistant to Dean Reed Greenwood, she makes visitors feel welcome and comfortable in the dean's office and coordinates the planning of such major events as Commencement and Honors Convocation. She also organized a new filing system for the dean.
She does a lot of little things to brighten the work environment such as keeping the staff kitchen clean and making coffee every morning. And, she plans smaller events such as birthday potlucks that give employees a chance to get to know each other better.
In her personal life, the former event planner for several large hotels is planning her wedding for the end of April. She and Marshall Saviers, who works in commercial real estate, will travel to Antigua after they tie the knot in Little Rock. They began dating when they were in high school.
Russell grew up in Little Rock. She's the middle child, with an older sister and a younger brother. She moved back home from Oxford, Miss., after college for a short time before getting her first hotel job in Charleston, S.C. She worked at the Mills House Hotel as guest relations coordinator and took care of large groups.
When Russell returned to Little Rock, she ended up turning down a job as a sales representative with Brent and Sam's Cookies – what a dream job! – for another opportunity she couldn't turn down. She worked three months as a hotel liaison with the staff preparing for the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library. She was in charge of placing hundreds of VIPs in hotels for the big event.
Russell worked on accommodations with media from the New York Times to E! News and called, met or stood in line with celebrities including Kevin Spacey, Judy Collins, Robin Williams, Chevy Chase and Jesse Ventura. Clinton himself brought two of his friends, actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, to a luncheon for library staff.
"Even though that was a temporary job, it was a great experience," Russell said.
When she heard about the position available in the College of Education and Health Professions, Russell was ready to get out of the hospitality business.
"Hotel work is long hours and weekends," she said. "Every time there is an event going on, you stay until it's over, and that may be 2 a.m."
She will mark her first anniversary with the college in March and has found that the organizational skills she built while planning events have served her well here.
"What I learned in hotels was how to work with all different types of personalities," Russell said. "There are a lot of strong personalities in the hotel business, everyone wants to get somewhere, plus you have to make the guests happy. There are always problems you have to solve in a timely manner.
"Here, I try to put people at ease. I also make all of the dean's appointments."
Russell plays team tennis and softball and enjoys running in her spare time. The tennis team will play tournaments locally. She's always been active – she started playing soccer as a little kid and continued through college.
"I also enjoy attending costume parties and karaoke," she said.
She's a member of the Northwest Arkansas Junior League (and still has a few cookbooks for sale, if you're interested), and she has been a big sister to a 6-year-old girl in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for more than a year.
She also enjoys traveling. During her junior year in college, Russell spent a summer traveling in Europe. She studied anthropology and art history in Innsbrook, Austria, and also visited Venice, Prague, Amsterdam, Florence, Cinque Terre, Salsburg and Munich.
In Antigua, the newlyweds plan to go snorkeling and deep sea fishing, drink pina coladas and lie on the beach. After they return, they'll be at home in Fayetteville with Stella, a 1 ½-year-old lab/collie mix, their only "child." Stella loves to eat anything in sight, fetch and enjoys having her dog friends over to play. She also has her own costumes to wear on special occasions. She welcomes all animals into the home. In a perfect world, Stella would sneak into the suitcase and head off to Antigua with her newly married parents!
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