Professor Henderson earned his MFA from Trinity - The Dallas Theatre Center in 1979 and joined the faculty of UK shortly thereafter.He teaches courses in acting, specializing in vocal production, dialects, and audition techniques. Russell has been known to appear as an actor on both the mainstage and studio season stages.

As a director, Russell has a wide range of tastes and experiences. In the past few years, he has directed such productions as Pirates of Penzance, Pride's Crossing, The Three Sisters, When Pigs Fly, and The Kentucky Cycle. Many also know Russell as the long-time director of The Stephen Foster Story, one of the region's most acclaimed outdoor dramas.