Ardys Russakis
Executive Director
Biography
Ardys Russakis joined Towson University in 1996 and has spent more than 25 years with the Division of Business and Public Engagement. Throughout her tenure, she has led numerous initiatives to expand the Division’s reach across the region, fostered cross-campus collaborations and strengthened partnerships between the university and the community.
In her current role as executive director of the StarTUp at the Armory, Ardys serves as the senior leader responsible for the strategy, operations and programming of Towson University’s hub for entrepreneurship, innovation and business engagement. She leads a dynamic team, builds connections with businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations, and oversees initiatives that position StarTUp as a regional leader in fostering economic growth.
Previously, as director of business engagement and operations, Ardys managed the StarTUp at the Armory facility and served as the primary contact for companies, individuals and organizations engaged in StarTUp programs and events. She spearheaded efforts to design sought-after programming, forge strategic partnerships and create value-driven initiatives that elevated awareness and impact.
Ardys also served as senior strategist for BTU—Partnerships at Work for Greater Baltimore, where she managed, formulated and executed investment strategies that scaled and institutionalized community engagement projects. She led TU’s economic inclusion agenda and advanced the university’s anchor mission strategy, working with stakeholders to develop mutually beneficial partnerships to drive regional impact. Her leadership portfolio also includes serving as Executive director of policy and strategic initiatives, overseeing the implementation and monitoring of the Division's strategic plans, campus integration goals and operational policy initiatives.
As executive director for the former Applied Research and Technical Services group, she managed a diverse set of teams, including the Center for GIS, Cloud Services & IT Consulting, and the Regional Economic and Studies Institute, providing high-level analytical, technical and research services to government, nonprofit and private sector partners. Earlier in her career, as managing director of the Center for GIS, Ardys oversaw large-scale projects, maintained the group’s reputation for excellence, set high standards for service and deliverables and developed infrastructure to support complex business processes.
Education
Ardys holds a M.S. in organizational development and strategic human resources from The Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. (magna cum laude) in geography and environmental planning from Towson University.
Personal
Ardys’ hobbies include cooking, gardening, and travel.
Fun Fact
What are three websites everyone should have bookmarked? www.saveur.com, www.houzz.com, www.nytimes.com
What are two apps you can’t live without? What is life with no apps?!