Kellen Russoniello

Senior Policy Counsel

Kellen Russoniello is a senior policy counsel at the Drug Policy Alliance. He leads DPA’s efforts to implement decriminalization of all drugs in Oregon. He also co-facilitates a nationwide table of advocates for overdose prevention centers. Kellen supports advocates across the country by drafting drug policy reform legislation and providing technical assistance.

Kellen has been fighting for drug policy and criminal legal system reform for over a decade. While with the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, he spearheaded an initiative to increase enrollment of people in Medicaid upon release from jail. He has provided representation to people seeking post-conviction relief across Southern California. He has served on the national board of directors for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. His writings on drug policy have been published in the Yale Journal of Health Policy and Ethics and American Journal of Law and Medicine.

Kellen earned his J.D. and Master of Public Health from The George Washington University. He earned his B.A. from Eastern Washington University. He was born and raised in Spokane, WA. Kellen currently lives in Orange County, CA with his wife and three children.