I met Russell Cutts in 1992. At the time he was an alumnus of the university at which I was the Vice President for Advancement (fundraising, alumni relations, and marketing). He was generous with his time working with the alumni association to better his alma mater. He was also donating time and money working with area school children educating them about the background of the native culture and peoples of the locale. I was immediately impressed with him.

Over the course of several years of continuous interaction with Russell I determined that he had leadership, passion, organizational skills, and high-level expertise in various areas of knowledge that I would need during the development of a new Native American History Museum the university was preparing to construct and operate. I thus hired him to be the lead project manager for this effort.

During the two years it took to bring the project to very successful fruition, Russell engaged a multitude of constituencies to assist with this complex undertaking. Contractors, artisans, Native Americans, faculty, donors, volunteers, marketing individuals, local education system leaders, and university senior administrators were all eventually involved through Russell’s inspiring leadership.

The $2 million, 20,000 sq. ft. museum, constructed on 60 acres and including an entire early Georgia settlers village, exhibition grounds, and working farm with livestock, all came into being under budget and on time due, in most part, to Russell’s planning, perseverance, and passion. The Museum and accompanying Heritage Center recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and is a fully functioning, financially solvent marvel for the entire north Georgia community.

I start my recommendation for Russell with this background because I feel it best captures what you can expect to gain from adding him to your graduate studies program. He is, without reservation, the most able person I have ever met at multi-tasking. He is also extraordinarily gifted as a teacher of people of all intellectual levels and ages. I have seen him mesmerize rooms of both children and learned faculty equally well.

His ability to see the big picture, yet never lose sight of the myriad details, makes him distinct among the 100 or more employees I have managed over the past 35 years of my career. This helps him be an excellent team member, when applicable, and equally adept at working alone, if required.

While my background is not in Russell’s area of expertise/graduate study, I can attest to the fact that he has great respect for the foundational aspects of his academic pursuits, but as in all things he delves into he will form challenging positions that many will feel compelled and excited to review due to his unique perspectives and incredibly ethical frame of reference.

I recommend Russell to you with my most sincere enthusiasm. He is an intelligent and honorable man and you would be fortunate indeed to have him broaden your perspectives and advance the thinking of any student he engages.

I will finish by revealing the nickname the Cherokee natives gave to Russell while he worked with them during the museum project (I do not know how to translate it into their native language). It spoke to their appreciation for his thoroughness and respect for them as he strove to embody their culture in the project. I also personally think it captures him very astutely.

“He who sees all eight sides of a four-sided box.”

Paul Milano
Executive Director of Development
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

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To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this strong letter of recommendation for Mr. Russell Cutts. I have known Russell for many years and had a chance to work with him as well as interact with him personally and professionally. This is a gentleman of high morals, strong work ethic, and incredible passion.

He and I have been involved in Earth Skills Rendezvous, Incorporated, the longest continuously running primitive skills training gathering in the country. He and I both started as attendees, moved on into instructors, and then he moved forward into being one of the coordinators and leaders of the group. In fact, he was instrumental in helping the group move forward after the founders stepped down. Almost single handedly, he ensured that this valuable gathering would continue. He helped move it forward into a corporation and today it stands stronger than it ever has.

The above speaks to his administrative skills, and his ability to take a really diverse group of people that only see each other once or twice a year and move them forward. In addition, he is an outstanding teacher as he is one of the most popular instructors at any such sessions. He is also an accomplished author and poet. He writes books on poetry, fire making, and cooking! This is truly a renaissance man and someone that I admire and respect.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my enthusiasm about this gentleman. If you need additional information, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Reid B. Blackwelder, MD, FAAFP
Professor of Family Medicine
ETSU Quillen College of Medicine
Member of Leadership Council, Earth Skills Rendezvous Inc.

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Our Boy Scout troop has really enjoyed working with Russ for the last
several years. He is truly a master of traditional fire building and
other primitive skills. And not just in demonstrations but in giving
the boys the history, skills and opportunity for hands on success. He
has a gift for working with youth and adults and holding them
spellbound.

Kent Watkins
Troop 370 Atlanta, GA

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I am impressed at your 20-year history of interest in fire, which doubtless gives you exceptional expertise as well as solidifying a terrific passion for the topic.
As you noted, archaeological sources [on the human origin of fire] point nowhere in particular, given that no clear threshold time has been discovered before which there was no controlled fire and after which it was routine.
However, this archaeological data-vacuum could certainly change if people like yourself push hard.... My point in rehearsing this perspective is to note that I share your enthusiasm for further investigation of the archaeological sites [for anthropogenic fire].

All the best,

Richard Wrangham, Ph.D.
Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology and
Chair of Biological Anthropology
Harvard University