A Keuka College alumna who began her journey as a student nurse has become a guiding force behind the school’s nationally respected nursing program.
Dr. Beth Russo, Class of ’98, is celebrating 20 years as a faculty member and 30 years with Keuka College. She currently serves as Professor of Nursing and Chair of the Division of Nursing.
Dr. Russo decided to pursue healthcare at 16, inspired by a moment when a grateful family approached her mother, a licensed practical nurse, in a grocery store. “That’s when I made up my mind,” she said. “I wanted to make an impact that profound.”
She started in the practical nursing program at Geneva General Hospital, where Keuka College graduates encouraged her to further her studies at their alma mater. After earning her bachelor’s at Keuka, she advanced her training to become a nurse practitioner in 2000, serving veterans at the VA in honor of her father, a retired Air Force first sergeant.
Dr. Linda R. Rossi, her former department chair, later invited her to return as an instructor. “I absolutely loved being in the classroom,” said Dr. Russo. “I knew that’s where I wanted to land—getting to work with students.”
In 2013, Dr. Russo earned her Ph.D. in Nursing, focusing her dissertation on upstate New York patients living with implanted heartbeat devices. Her research continues to support whole-person care strategies worldwide.
A year later, the College welcomed its first cohort of student nurse practitioners to meet growing healthcare shortages. Since then, the program—Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)—has grown in step with statewide healthcare needs.
“That’s why I’m excited that we’re expanding our AGPCNP program in 2025,” she said, noting regional shortages in places like Yates and Seneca counties. “Keuka College is also doing its part by relaunching our hybrid RN to BSN program, so working nurses can fulfill the state’s ‘BSN in 10’ law without leaving their posts.”
Her leadership has kept the nursing division aligned with the College’s values of experiential learning and collaborative education. “All our full-time faculty are advanced practice nurses with recent clinical experience,” she said. “And we’re small on purpose, with a student-to-faculty ratio that allows for close collaboration and plenty of personal support.”
Provost Dr. Heather Maldonado praised Dr. Russo as “a mentor and provider” who exemplifies Keuka College’s mission. “Her impact has been immeasurable,” said Maldonado. “She has become one of our most accomplished faculty members during her career.”
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