Gabrielle A. Russo has been appointed interim director of the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI), effective October 21. Russo, who is an associate professor of anthropology and previously served as TBI’s deputy director, will take over from Dino Martins. Martins stepped down to focus on his research after contributing to the expansion of research programs and supporting professional staff development in areas such as human resources, finance, logistics, and field operations.
Russo has a longstanding involvement with TBI and conducts paleontological fieldwork at Miocene sites in the Turkana Basin that are known for ape fossil discoveries. As deputy director, she managed daily operations at TBI Stony Brook, built relationships with stakeholders, and organized events to enhance TBI’s reputation as a leader in human evolution and paleoscience research.
A steering committee will support Russo during her interim tenure. The committee includes Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith, TBI Research Professor Louise Leakey, and TBI Director Emeritus Lawrence Martin. Gregory Henkes has assumed new responsibilities as associate director after serving as TBI’s research fund officer.
Stony Brook University plans to launch an international search for a permanent director in collaboration with the TBI International Advisory Board in the coming months.
The Turkana Basin Institute was created through a partnership between Richard Leakey and Stony Brook University to advance research in Kenya’s Lake Turkana Basin—an area recognized for its scientific significance.
