Russel C. Mikkelson was appointed in 1998 as the sixth director of University Bands at The Ohio State University, where he serves as professor of music (conducting), former area head of Conducting and Ensembles, conducts the Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind conducting program, and oversees all aspects of the university's band program. Under his direction, the Ohio State Wind Symphony has performed at the Japan Band Clinic, the College Band Directors National Association Convention, the American Bandmasters Association Convention, the CBDNA North Central Conference, and at the Ohio Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference. Further, the Wind Symphony has recorded six CDs (see Recordings): Network (Naxos), Rest (Naxos), Southern Harmony (Naxos), Winds of Nagual (Naxos), Jubilare! (Mark Records) and Sounds, Shapes and Symbols (Mark Records) to critical praise. Fanfare magazine proclaims, "The Ohio State musicians play their collective hearts out and conductor Mikkelson shapes the music with a loving hand, wringing every last drop of emotion out of the music. If this does not give you goose-bumps, nothing will."

A relentless advocate for the creation of new works, Mikkelson has served as chair of the Big Ten Conference’s Commissioning Project, the American Bandmasters Association Commissioning Committee, and instituted a decades-long program of commissioning projects for the Ohio State Bands. He has received praise from esteemed composers Leslie Bassett, Krzysztof Penderecki, John Corigliano, Michael Colgrass, Joseph Schwantner, Aaron Jay Kernis, Jennifer Higdon, Gunther Schuller, Augusta Read Thomas, Frank Ticheli, John Mackey, Steven Bryant and Michael Daugherty — among others — for his musical realization of their compositions. Corigliano wrote, “Russel Mikkelson is a conductor who really understands my music, and that’s rare.”

Professor Mikkelson is past president of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) and of the Big Ten Band Directors Association. He is a member of NAfME, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, and has been a duly elected member of the American Bandmasters Association since 2003. An enthusiastic advocate of public-school music education, Mikkelson has conducted All-State Bands, Festivals, and Honor Bands across the United States and internationally. His professional guest conducting appearances include the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Winds, the United States Army Field Band, the Naval Academy Brass Ensemble, and The President’s Own United States Marine Band. He also serves as music director and conductor of the professional Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra, and the Heisey Wind Ensemble, a highly skilled community band.

Mikkelson has received both The Ohio State University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Scholar Award. He also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Band Research. He has published articles in The Instrumentalist and The Journal of the Conductor’s Guild. As a composer and arranger, he has works published through C. Alan Publications, Daehn Publications, and additional arrangements through Sheet Music Direct. His previous positions include the State University of New York at Fredonia, Stevens Point Area Senior High School (WI) and Kickapoo High School (WI). Additionally, he was honored with the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire's President's Alumni Award for outstanding professional and personal achievement. Dr. Mikkelson and his wife, Kathy, are proud parents of two adult children and six grandchildren, all of whom enrich their lives tremendously.