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FACULTY AND STAFF

Russell Schultz

Title:Adjunct Faculty
Email:rschultz@sxu.edu
Department:Communication

Biography

Russell Schultz is an award-winning visual marketing communications strategist and adjunct instructor with over 30 years of professional experience. Schultz holds expertise in graphic design, branding, UX/UI, package design, exhibit displays, marketing, and emerging technologies combined with a passion for fostering creativity and critical thinking in diverse educational settings. He is dedicated to empowering students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s design and marketing landscape.

Schultz's primary aim in life is to increase mutual understanding in the world by helping others communicate more effectively and efficiently through the presentation of ideas and information in a clear, concise, consistent, and where possible, visually-engaging manner. 

As founder/owner of RAS Communications, for over 30 years, he has completed more than 15,000 graphic design projects, providing graphic design, printing, promotional products, and social media marketing services to a growing number of clients looking to increase sales and brand awareness or promote a particular event or cause. 

In March 2022, Schultz retired from a 28-year career as a police officer and violent crimes detective with the Chicago Police Department, which presented countless opportunities for both visual and traditional communication successes while combating crime and disorder on the streets of Chicago. 

Schultz began his adjunct teaching career in 2021 and has taught in person at Aurora University (Illinois) and SXU and online at Franklin University (Ohio) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Florida), expanding the reach of his years of practical experience in the fields of graphic design, organizational communication, entrepreneurship, and law enforcement. 

Schultz's personal philosophy as a professor is to meet students where they are on their personal, educational, and professional journeys. His teaching style strives to encourage meaningful dialogue, critical thinking, problem solving, team building/collaboration, hands-on coursework, and subject matter mastery -- from the first day of class. Schultz aims to instill important life skills of personal initiative, time management, and network development to prepare students for success while in school and beyond. 

Education

M.S. in Communication

Northwestern University

B.A. in Fine Art/Visual Communication Minor: Communication

Loyola University Chicago

Areas of Specialization

  • Communication
  • Graphic Design
  • Marketing
  • Law Enforcement

Courses Taught

  • COMM-265: Social Media Advocacy and Campaigning
  • COMM-206: Communicating with Social Media
  • COMM-101: Speech Fundamentals

Courses Taught Elsewhere 

  • Visual Communication
  • Speech Fundamentals
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Introduction to Graphic Design/Typography
  • Marketing Innovations Capstone (Graduate MBA)
  • Design for User Experience UX (Graduate MBA Online)
  • (Marketing) Design For Communication (Graduate MBA - developed by Schultz)
  • Social Media Marketing (Graduate MBA - developed by Schultz)

Selected Honors/Awards

  • Integrated Marketing Campaign, Gladstone Park Throwback Music Fest
  • Website Re-Design (www.PlayThinks.org), USA Magazine 2024 American Digital Design Awards
  • Beer Label Design (Pollyanna Brewing Company Dragon Fruit Allure), USA Magazine 2023 Packaging Design Awards
  • Social Media Video (Gladstone Park Throwback Music Fest Miss Throwback Contest Promo), Graphic Design USA Magazine 2023 American Digital Design Awards
  • Website Design (The Police Officers Network), Graphic Design USA Magazine 2023 American Digital Design Awards
  • Integrated Marketing Campaign (Gladstone Park Throwback Music Fest), Graphic Design
  • Social Media (The Police Officers Network National Night Out Social Media Promo), Graphic Design USA Magazine 2023 American Graphic Design Awards
  • Strategic Communications (Marketing/Promotion Campaign), Special Event Category - Gladstone Park Throwback Music Fest. Platinum Winner, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals 2023 MarCom Awards
  • Creativity (Design), Packaging (Beer Label), Pollyanna Brewing Company / Cog Hill Golf and Country Club / 1-2-3-4 Summer Pills. Gold Winner, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals 2023 MarCom Awards
  • Creativity (Design), T-Shirt, Galoot Fest XX: Doesn't Add Up - 20th Anniversary Tour T-Shirt and Trucker Cap. Honorable Mention, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals 2023 MarCom Awards
  • Honorable Mention, Creative Director and Assistant Editor for the “Rebirth” of the Chicago Police Star Magazine
  • Department Commendation, Department Directives Online Intranet Project
  • Superintendent’s Award of Merit, Citizen ICAM Internet Project
  • Redesign of CPD Website

Presentations/Publications/Productions

“A Proud Tradition: A Pictorial History of the Chicago Police Department,” 2005. Creative director and assistant editor. With Dennis Bingham. 

LinkedIn

Design Portfolio