She was born and raised in West Virginia where she graduated as valedictorian from her high school class. She attended West Virginia Wesleyan College on a track/academic scholarship and graduated with high honors in 1999. She moved to Jacksonville and attended Florida Coastal School of Law after being offered an academic scholarship. While in law school, she earned multiple academic awards and was chosen to intern with the Florida Supreme Court under Justice Peggy Quince. In 2003, Ms. Russo graduated third in her class.