A native of Kingston, Jamaica, she emigrated at age 11 to New York City, where she attended Richard R. Green Junior High and Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx.

Ruschell received her Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Bernard M. Baruch College in Manhattan, where she served as president of the Caribbean Students Association and the West Indian Cultural Club. She also hosted a college radio talk show where she tackled issues affecting the student body.

Ruschell proudly became a citizen of the United States in September 1997.

She began her career in television as a college intern for CNBC Business News. After graduation CNBC hired has a news assistant, and she produced, field produced, and wrote for several shows. She went on to CNNfn where she became an associate producer, and after 8 months was promoted to assignment editor.

Ruschell has lived in Queens since 1997. She says she loves working in the borough because of its diversity, and large immigrant population.