As Senior Associate Director of People Operations, JRuss, SHRM, SCP, is the operational backbone of Book Harvest's Talent & Culture team. She stewards the systems and infrastructure that support every member of the staff and serves as a warm, trusted resource for teammates navigating policies and workplace questions. She is at her best where people, strategy, and systems intersect, translating data into meaningful conversations that help leaders make evidence-informed decisions and create a workplace where people feel seen, trusted, and equipped to do their best work.

JRuss brings nearly two decades of experience partnering with mission-driven organizations to strengthen culture and build sustainable people systems during periods of growth and change. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she began her career teaching English and photography in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to creativity, inclusion, and community. She went on to lead literacy-based community development programs before transitioning into People Operations, where organizational strategy, culture, and systems became the focus of her work.

Over the past decade, she has built a career bridging strategy and implementation: developing leadership frameworks, coaching managers through difficult conversations, and designing the operational systems that help organizations thrive behind the scenes. Before coming to Book Harvest, she founded her own fractional People and Culture consulting practice, partnering with nonprofits, tech startups, and growing organizations navigating significant change. She holds the SHRM Senior Certified Professional credential along with certifications in people analytics, change management, and inclusive workplace practices.

JRuss lives in Durham with her husband, Corey, and their two dogs, Marquez and Risa. A Cuban American raised on loud family stories, homemade frijoles negros, and a deep connection to the clave, she spends her free time tending an ever-expanding garden, art journaling, and is rarely without a stack of books she's excited to share. Her favorite children's books are Wonder by R. J. Palacio and God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.