McKenzie begins her first year as the faculty athletics representative at McDaniel in 2025-26.
A Professor of Kinesiology, McKenzie teaches Introduction to Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Physiology Lab, Conditioning & Speed, and the capstone in Kinesiology. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with expertise in kinesiology and exercise physiology whose research interests include health-related and performance-related benefits of exercise and exercise training. She is also an advisor for students interested in Allied Health careers.
McKenzie grew up in Garrett County, Maryland and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Exercise Science (now Kinesiology) from McDaniel in 2001. She completed a Master of Arts in Kinesiology in 2003 and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology in 2008, both from the University of Maryland, College Park. She returned to teach at McDaniel in 2008.
McKenzie is a dedicated and accomplished educator, scholar, and leader in the field of Kinesiology with a long-standing commitment to McDaniel. Her career spans nearly two decades of service at her alma mater in both faculty and administrative roles, including serving on numerous faculty committees as well as department chair and co-director of the Human Performance Labs.
McKenzie has played a key role in academic advising, student recruitment, curriculum development, and faculty mentoring. McKenzie has secured multiple internal research and teaching grants, often collaborating with students and colleagues, and actively participates in professional development through national conferences and institutional trainings.
As a campus leader, McKenzie has served on numerous search committees and college-wide initiatives, including Phi Beta Kappa and diversity-focused programming. She has played a significant role in supporting internships and independent studies at McDaniel. From spring 2009 to 2011, she mentored Exercise Science capstone projects, and as co-director of the Human Performance Labs since 2009 and chair of the Kinesiology Department from 2016 to 2021, she has played a key role in the course structures that support hands-on learning experiences.
McKenzie’s involvement in donor-funded Student-Faculty Collaborative Summer Research projects for more than a decade further reflects her dedication to mentoring students in independent academic work. Recognized for her engaged teaching and service, she received the Ira G. Zepp Distinguished Teaching Award in 2025 and the Charles A. Boehlke Jr. Engaged Faculty Fellows Award in 2018.
McKenzie has a connection to Authentic, the 2020 Kentucky Derby winning horse, as her family owns a micro share interest in him. Not only is she an alum, but her husband also earned his degree from the college in 2000.
