Mackenzie was a Master’s student in the Public Policy Department. Originally from rural Hamlet, North Carolina, Mackenzie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022 with undergraduate degrees in Public Policy and Peace, War, and Defense. During her undergraduate career, she worked as an intern for the North Carolina National Guard JAGc and was a member of the Whole Community Health capstone team. She also worked as a Research Assistant to Dr. Patricia Sullivan, conducting research on the effects of military and humanitarian aid. Mackenzie’s policy interests are international relations, intelligence, and security