Mary Russo, L.M.S.W.

Mary earned her Master of Social Work from the Columbia University School of Social Work, with a specialization in policy practice. Before graduate school, she was a New York City Urban Fellow and worked at the NYC Department of Homeless Services, focusing on program development and implementation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political & Social Thought and French from the University of Virginia.

After completing her MSW, Mary worked as a Senior Research Coordinator at Columbia University’s Social Intervention Group (SIG), contributing to several NIH-funded projects, including the HEALing Communities Study. Her interests include harm reduction, housing, and the disciplinary intersections of social work and research, particularly how each can inform and strengthen the other.

Mary currently works with Dr. Hochstatter as a Project Manager for a study that explores the impacts of family support services on bereaved individuals who have lost someone to an overdose death in New York City. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in New York State and is based in Brooklyn.