McKenzie has been leading groups of students on wilderness expeditions as an environmental educator for 13 years. She holds a B.A. in Applied Linguistics from Portland State University and is also certified a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician. She has participated in conservation research and habitat rehabilitation projects, much of her fieldwork has focused on endangered endemic plant species. McKenzie is also a member of the search and rescue team in Yosemite National Park. She enjoys traveling, rock climbing, ski touring, watercolor painting, and playing music with friends. She is dedicated to fostering an ethic of land stewardship in the communities she is a part of.