Meet Stacy Russo a 2020 graduate of our Certificate Training Program. 

We are excited to feature her as our monthly Alumni Spotlight! 

We think you will be inspired by her work as a Professor of English, Author and Founder of Wild Librarian Press.

Stacy Russo, PhD

Southern California

https://www.stacy-russo.com/

Stacy Russo is committed to creating books and art for a more peaceful world. She is currently a Professor of English at Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, California, after a long career as an academic librarian. Stacy is the author of several nonfiction books, including We Were Going to Change the World: Interviews with Women From the 1970s and 1980s Southern California Punk Rock Scene and BEYOND 70: The Lives of Creative Women; the editor of three essay collections; a published poet; and the author/illustrator of two children’s picture books. Stacy’s books have been featured on National Public Radio, Pacifica Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting System, Sirius XM Radio, KCET Artbound, LA Weekly, and various other media channels. She served as a longtime book reviewer for Library Journal in the areas of women’s literature and American literature. One Day I Started a New Life, an art book with an essay about Stacy’s creative journey, was recently published by Litwin Books.

After years of working as a writer within the traditional publishing model, Stacy created Wild Librarian Press in 2021 to independently publish her writing and the work of other writers. She recently earned her PhD in Transformative Studies from California Institute of Integral Studies. Stacy grew up in the Southern California punk rock scene of the 1980s, which has been a big influence on her life. She takes her coffee black and eats chocolate before noon each day.
 

Stacy, what drew you to the field of Expressive Arts, or motivated you to get Expressive Arts training?

I was experiencing burnout with my career and I was looking for something new to infuse into my life and work. I researched possibilities for training and licensure to become an art therapist, since I had become very drawn to this career over a few years. Although obtaining another degree was doable, the hours required for state licensure were not feasible for me with my full-time career. Finding EAFI was a blessing. It allowed me to pursue something new that I was interested in to enrich my life.

Do You Ever Think of Me Like I Think of You

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As you began to immerse yourself in this work, were there any unexpected gifts or surprises?

Oh, definitely! I was not aware of the deep connections I would feel with the women in the certificate program. I continue to be amazed and inspired by the things they do. I felt that I was in the right place because of these connections and a sense of belonging I experienced. I also did not anticipate how emotionally deep the training would be. I became more courageous with my art and life decisions. During the training, in an intense moment, I shared with everyone about a dream I had for many years of obtaining my PhD. It always felt beyond me because of life demands and finances. I knew when I voiced this dream out loud that I was going to finally take the steps to make it happen after carrying the dream within me for almost twenty years. Shortly after completing the EAFI training, I applied for a PhD in Transformative Studies through California Institute of Integral Studies. I was accepted and started following the dream. I just completed my degree in January 2025. It’s going to take me some time to get used to people calling me Dr. Russo or Dr. Stacy! I’m not sure if this would have happened if I didn’t have the experience with EAFI.

Hello, Spirit Family

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How are you currently implementing expressive arts in your personal and/or professional life?

Since completing my EAFI training, I have offered expressive arts workshops to faculty and staff at my college. Faculty are required to complete a certain number of professional development hours each year. A wonderful thing is that the college allows my workshops to qualify for professional development credit. The workshops I’ve offered are ones I created during the EAFI final project.
 

Image from Children's Book "Poetry Hounds"

What are your goals in this work, or how do you envision your involvement with EXA unfolding in the future?

Now that I’m in a new role as an English professor, I’m interested in bringing EXA into my classroom. I’m currently teaching several sections of Freshman Composition each semester. I have students complete in-class free writing activities, but I have not ventured more to make it an EXA experience. Since teaching English is new to me, it will take me another semester or two to get my footing. Once I’m more settled, I will see how I can integrate EXA into a few class sessions. I think it will be great and add a unique element to my classroom.
 

Photo Taken During an Intuitive Painting Elective Class for Stacy's EAFI Certificate

What do you wish you could tell the world about Expressive Arts?

I would like everyone to believe in their unique creative power. Expressive Arts is a great way to tap into and discover this beautiful wisdom we all have within us.

What are you currently offering, and what are the ways that people can work with you?

Anyone wanting to reach out to me can contact me through my email (stacy@love-activism.com). I often post news about things I’m up to on my website. 
 

Anything else you would like to say? 

The EAFI training was some of the deepest learning of my life. I have much gratitude for Tamara, Kathleen, and Victoria, as well as the wonderful mentors during the program. Sending much love to the EAFI community!

Professional links - Learn more about Stacy

 Websites: 

https://stacy-russo.com
https://www.wildlibrarianpress.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveactivism

Email: stacy@love-activism.com
 

Watch for our Alumni Spotlight on the 15th of each month. We feature graduates of our Certificate Training Program - Expressive Arts Facilitators, Therapists, and Educators. We hope this series will inspire you, help spread the work of our alumni, and demonstrate the scope of practice of the expressive arts field. 

To see past Alumni Spotlight features & our Alumni Directory visit the link below.

www.expressiveartsflorida.com/art-professional-links

For more information about our Certificate Training Program, Professional Development, and Workshops - both online and in-person, visit us at www.expressiveartsflorida.com

Tamara Teeter Knapp 

MA, NCC, LMHC, REACE®

Kathleen Horne 

MA, LMHC(S), REACE®, REAT®