Russell Medley is a community and economic development educator for University of Illinois Extension, serving Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark Counties. Medley received his bachelor of arts degree from Knox College and holds a master of science degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Iowa.

Medley has 25 years of experience in the urban planning and economic development fields, with stints as planner/analyst for a county government and as an economic development specialist and marketing and research director for a countywide economic development organization in the Chicago suburbs. Before affiliating with University of Illinois Extension, Medley served as executive director for Kewanee Economic Development Corporation in Kewanee, Illinois.

Medley focuses on workforce development, disaster preparedness planning, rural and urban planning, and the development and quantification of economic development strategies for municipal and regional entities.