Alumni News – June 2026

Leah Russell ’79 was honored by Virginia’s Blue Ridge United Way as part of their 2026 Heroes Project. While many people know Russell as an active alumna and from her time as associate dean and registrar at Roanoke College, her passion for children and education extends beyond campus.

Russell is the second-longest running board member for the Children’s Trust, a child advocacy organization in Roanoke, where she’s shared her leadership expertise. In addition, she has been heavily involved in building the local leaders of tomorrow with Leadership Roanoke Valley. Russell also serves on the newly formed alumni and friends board of directors at Roanoke College.

She graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration from Roanoke and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Hollins. She is a member of the Cornerstone Society and the Maroon Club, and the parent of alumnus John Spadaro ’12.

Adam Rutledge ’04 is returning as head coach of the boys’ basketball team at Salem High School, where he was a member of the 1999 boys’ basketball state championship team. In his most recent coaching role, he led the boys’ basketball team at Andrew Lewis Middle School through an undefeated season. Rutledge has been a music teacher and performer in the Roanoke Valley for many years.

At Roanoke, he majored in business administration. Both his wife, Kelly (Tate) Rutledge ’04, and brother, Andrew Rutledge ’05, are fellow Maroons.

Matt Madalon ’06, who was featured in February’s Alumni News, just won his first national title as head coach of this year’s NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Champions, Princeton University. He led Princeton to its first NCAA championship game since 2002. In 2026, his team also won the Ivy League tournament championship. The team holds multiple records in the program’s history including highest-scoring team.