Russ Cantrell

Director of Data Administration and Strategic Initiatives, Higher Education

Russ Cantrell is a full-time data analyst and Ph.D student with research interests in the areas of predictive analytics, burnout, and healthcare IT.

Russ Cantrell's Bio:

Russell W. Cantrell is the Director of Data Administration and Strategic Initiatives at the USA College of Medicine. He is a full-time data analyst and Ph.D student with research interests in the areas of predictive analytics, burnout, and healthcare IT. Russ currently holds Masters degrees in Information Systems and Business Administration, as well as professional certificates in Health Informatics and other related areas. Currently, Russ is working with multiple research groups to determine how to help identify and reduce burnout for employees in the healthcare industry. Additionally, Russ Cantrell has recently been named an official Tableau Academic Ambassador. As a Reporting analyst, Russ develops Cerner CCL reports for use by hospital, pharmacy, nursing, and surgical staff. He also provides data and statistics to College of Nursing faculty to be used in academic research. Formerly, Russ spent his early career as the Director of IT Operations at a local pharmacy, managing a small team of IT professionals under his direct supervision. He also has experience in managing an office environment of over one hundred users, with duties including the processing of vital documentation and employee-manager interactions including termination. Russ Cantrell previously attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, where he majored in Computer Science through the College of Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. Russ Cantrell has also studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan, studying business. Russ Cantrell has been nominated and inducted into several honor societies, such as Phi Kappa Phi, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Golden Key International Honor Society, and Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society. He has also won art contests and writing contests, with work appearing in publication. Russell W. Cantrell also is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery and Alabama Technology Foundation, among other organizations. In his spare time, Russ Cantrell is an avid gamer, fond of board games, video games, and tabletop games such as Dungeons & Dragons. He also has spent years studying the martial arts, including Aikido and Kung Fu. Russ currently lives in Mobile, AL, near his childhood home of Semmes, AL. He is married to a wonderful wife who serves as a librarian at the University of South Alabama.

Russ Cantrell's Experience:

  • Director of Data Administration and Strategic Initiatives at University of South Alabama

    July 2023 - Present | Mobile, AL

    • Administers, updates, and maintains complex databases to support the missions of the College of Medicine, Office of Accreditation and Planning, and Medical Education. • Implements use of Business Intelligence (BI) tools for data visualization and dashboard design to synthesize and interpret data from multiple sources across the College of Medicine (COM) to advise continuous quality improvement (CQI) and accreditation practices. • Responsible for implementing dashboards, key performance indicators, executive summaries, and data integration to support strategic decision-making. • Oversees audit integrity of all medical education data stored and reports on behalf of the COM to accrediting agencies, university administration, public relations, etc. • Helps achieve the strategies and tactical direction for accreditation-related projects and processes to drive quality improvement and mitigate accreditation compliance risks.

  • Data Analyst at University of South Alabama

    November 2018 - Present | Mobile, AL

    • Developed Cerner CCL reports for use by hospital, pharmacy, nursing, and surgical staff • Provided data and statistics to College of Nursing faculty to be used in academic research

  • Network & Systems Administrator at Turner Supply Company

    November 2009 - November 2018 | Mobile, AL

    • Original duties equal to and redundant with the IT Manager, overseeing all IT operations • Later specialized as EDI Coordinator, responsible for document management and e-commerce

  • Computer Support Specialist at Carlisle Medical

    October 2006 - November 2009 | Mobile, AL

    • Director of IT Operations, managing a small team of IT professionals under my direct supervision • Negotiated contracts and pricing with key software vendors and service providers • Responsible for creating and submitting State and Federal narcotics reports to various authorities • Successfully coordinated implementation of high-volume production ERP and VOIP systems

  • Agent Advocate at Pilot Catastrophe

    October 2005 - October 2006 | Mobile, AL

    • Drafted technical documents to be used by employees as help files and job aids • Assisted with the legal interpretation and application of insurance policies • Assisted in managing an office environment of over one hundred users, with duties including the processing of vital documentation and employee-manager interactions including termination

  • Level 2 Network Technician at Odyssey Networking

    January 2005 - September 2005 | Mobile, AL

    • Technical consultant for businesses in the U.S. and internationally • Drafted lecture notes and exams for MCSE certification classes and supervised class sessions • Set up and managed multiple virtual networks for use in classroom and lab environments • Helped rebuild the Red Cross’s network infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Katrina

Russ Cantrell's Education:

  • University of South Alabama

    2021 – 2025
    Ph.D.
    Concentration: Computing

  • University of South Alabama

    2016 – 2021
    Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (MSCIS)

  • University of South Alabama

    2016 – 2021
    Master of Business Administration (MBA)

  • University of Alabama

    1998 – 2003
    Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BS)

  • Chiba University

    2000 – 2000
    Tokyo, Japan
    Activities: Studied Japanese economics, international trade, and international business relations at Chiba University (千葉大学) in Tokyo, Japan. Lived with host family in the Hamano area for full exposure to culture and family life. Visited several multinational corporations and met with top officials.

Russ Cantrell's Interests & Activities:

Phi Kappa Phi, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Golden Key International Honor Society, Chi Alpha, Miso, SAGE, Association for Computing Machinery, Alabama Technology Foundation, DayZero Cyber Competition Team, Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, Dean's List, Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Eta Sigma, Lambda Sigma, Gamma Phi Beta, Society of Free Thinkers, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Independent Voters Association, ACM, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 2600, Yoseikan Budo, University of Alabama National Alumni Association, Foundation Coalition Honors Program, Crimson Tide Pregame Show, Red Cross volunteer, Mobile Chinese Christian Fellowship volunteer, Mobile Historical Preservation Society, Mobile Writers' Guild, Ghost Hunters of the South, NAPS