Social entrepreneur Kevin Russell earns CWRU's Young Alumni Award

Kevin Russell’s path from Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga to social entrepreneur shows what happens when purpose meets conviction and courage. The result has not only earned Russell Case Western Reserve University Alumni Association's 2025 Young Alumni Award—it's also changed lives, hopefully for generations to come.

A native Californian, Russell credits Case Western Reserve University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Center for Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL) with shaping his commitment to equity and service. He then joined the Peace Corps, where he was immersed in a close-knit island community for two years ad saw firsthand how financial access and education can transform lives—and how their absence can limit them.

“The Peace Corps is uniquely empowering,” Russell said. “It taught me that service isn’t about who follows you—it’s about who’s better because of you. It encouraged me to listen deeply, identify real community needs and create meaningful change.”

That philosophy guided a career spanning international development, impact investing and development finance—including managing a $1 billion emerging-markets portfolio at the U.S. International Development Finance Corp.

Those experiences inspired him to found The Zillennial Advisors, an SEC-registered investment advisor and financial wellness platform using AI-powered tools to democratize access to financial advice and education for Gen Z and Millennials.

“Access to financial guidance shouldn’t depend on your zip code or net worth,” Russell said.

Now pursuing his MBA, Russell continues to build the financial infrastructure he believes every generation deserves—one rooted in inclusion, technology and the courage to reimagine what’s possible.