UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The life of Ryan Russell, Penn State professor of graphic design in the Stuckeman School of the College of Arts and Architecture, was cut tragically short on Oct. 23, 2023, following a courageous 17-month battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. His legacy as a talented designer, dedicated teacher and passionate advocate of design education continues to be carried on by his former students, colleagues and all those knew him during his 16+ years at the University.

In honor of Russell’s tremendous impact on graphic design students and his commitment to enhancing design education at the University, Bob Kiernan and Mary Murphy Kiernan endowed the Ryan Russell Award for Design Excellence in Graphic Design. The Kiernans are partners of the Pittsburgh-based creative firm Actual Size, founded in 1999.

Raising additional support for the fund, toward the goal of transforming it into a scholarship, is a priority for the Stuckeman School in Penn State's 10th annual GivingTuesday effort, taking place on Dec. 3.

Bob, a 1989 graphic design alumnus, and his wife Mary, a 1989 College of the Liberal Arts alumna, funded the award in collaboration with Eric Yeamans, Actual Size director of digital operations and a 2010 graphic design alumnus, in the hopes of growing it into a scholarship.

Shortly after Russell’s death, Yeamans and Karin Satrom, then-president of the Graphic Design Alumni Affiliate Program Group and a 2001 alumna, started exploring ways to honor the teacher’s legacy. They decided that a scholarship to support students in the design program to which Russell had dedicated so much was the way to go and reached out to the University with their idea.

“As we worked through the logistics — discussing dollar amounts, award structures and scholarship types — I recognized an opportunity for our company, Actual Size, to contribute,” said Yeamans.

Bob and Mary Kiernan, alums who met during their time at Penn State, hired Yeamans to join their company in 2010 shortly after he graduated. Since then, according to Mary, he has been a steadfast and invaluable member of the firm.

It was through Yeamans that the Kiernans came to learn about Russell, discovering that his influence on students was often likened to that of the late Distinguished Professor Emeritus Lanny Sommese, who led the Penn State Graphic Design program from 1970 to 2014.

“Lanny was a monumental figure for the Penn State program and in the development of his students, including myself,” Bob said. “Ryan was part of the new generation [of faculty] that helped the program move beyond its foundational standing that was started by Lanny and into a new era. We were greatly saddened to learn that the life of a person of such spirit and promise was cut short.”

Yeamans, according to Bob and Mary, has also been invaluable in maintaining their connection with the University and the Graphic Design program.  

“Eric has assisted us in recruiting talented individuals from Penn State who have all been profoundly influenced by Ryan's mentorship and leadership,” said Bob.

Among the talented designers who studied under Russell at Penn State and are part of the Actual Size team are Clare Connell, a 2023 alumna, and Jordan Wolf, a 2022 alumna who earned her master’s degree in 2024 from Penn State.

“It just felt appropriate to honor Ryan's memory, given his significant impact on our team members and his dedication to the Penn State Graphic Design program,” said Bob. “As a company of only 12, we have seven Penn State graduates, so we have great pride in the University and the talent it produces.”

As for Russell’s impact, Yeamans attributes his own success as a designer directly to the education he received at Penn State and studying under Russell.

“There is no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the Penn State Graphic Design program and Ryan’s guidance,” said Yeamans. “His voice — along with the principles he instilled — still echoes in the back of my mind whenever I start a project. Phrases like ‘Form follows function’ and ‘Verbal plus visual’ are not just lessons he taught; they are ingrained habits that have shaped my approach to design.”

Yeamans described Russell as a deeply engaged and straightforward teacher, and said his dedication to the success of each student in his class was unwavering.

“He approached teaching as if every student’s performance was a direct reflection of his own, and he held himself — and us — to the highest standards,” Yeamans said.

One of the most impactful lessons Yeamans took from his time in the Graphic Design program, and particularly in the classes he had with Russell, was the importance of not settling on the first idea, he said.

“Creative solutions are dynamic and often evolve due to factors like client needs, new technologies or changing requirements,” he said. “Learning to anticipate and adapt to these shifts was invaluable. The skills I developed in breaking down problems and approaching them strategically continue to guide me every day in my professional career.”

Russell joined the graphic design faculty at Penn State in 2007, shortly after earning his master’s degree from the University. He was new to the teaching ranks when Yeamans, who wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life at that point, took a Design 101 class on logos with the young instructor. It was during that class that Yeamans said Russell “unlocked a sense of potential and revealed the possibilities of a career in graphic design.”

“Looking back, it’s clear how pivotal those moments were,” he said. “The [Graphic Design] program didn’t just teach me to be a designer; it helped me find direction, purpose and passion. And Ryan, in particular, was instrumental in that journey. His guidance and the lessons he imparted continue to influence my work and inspire me to give back to the community that shaped me.”

According to Priddy, head of the Department of Graphic Design, Russell was a pillar of the Graphic Design program, an energizing colleague and an impassioned advocate for his students. 

“This award will make a meaningful difference in the lives of graphic design students, recognizing those who display distinction in design thinking and achievement,” said Priddy. “It carries forward the legacy of Ryan Russell, who gave so much of himself to education and was a formative figure for a generation of designers.” 

Russell, who was promoted from associate professor to professor posthumously, guided his students to numerous design awards over the years from organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Graphis, the University & College Designers Association, United Designs Alliance and more. He also kept in touch with many of his students after they graduated. Yeamans said they would exchange emails periodically with life updates and Russell would inquire about any internship opportunities for his Penn State design students at Actual Size.

“Even after graduation, his encouragement and belief in me continued to open doors and provide opportunities,” he said. “That lasting impact is one of the many reasons I feel a strong responsibility to give back to the school and the community that gave so much to me.”

According to Yeamans, the goal from the beginning of the talks between the alumni group, University officials, the Kiernans and the graphic design department has been to raise enough funds to establish a student scholarship. The award is just the first step, he said, in honoring a man who has influenced so many in such a short amount of time.

“If we should reach our goal, this scholarship would serve as a permanent tribute to Ryan, honoring his lifelong dedication to mentoring and shaping future designers,” Yeamans said. “Supporting students in his name feels like the most meaningful way to remember someone who devoted his career to giving so much to others.”

Those interested in donating to the Ryan Russell Award for Design Excellence are encouraged to use the Giving Tuesday campaign site. A more permanent site to donate funds will be available later.

Gifts to the Ryan Russell Award for Design Excellence advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.