Bio
Early Career
Mackenzie began her professional journey in the animal health sector, where her dedication and hard work opened doors to diverse opportunities. From volunteering at clinics to working on horse farms, she gained experience with a wide range of species, including dolphins and red-tailed hawks. These early experiences cemented her passion for the environmental field. Additionally, Mackenzie dedicated several weeks each year to volunteering abroad, assisting underserved communities and their pets in countries such as Nicaragua, Grenada, and Ghana.
Education
Mackenzie graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College in 2011. In May of 2021, Mackenzie received her Master’s of Science degree in Environmental Science & Policy with a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from The Johns Hopkins University. Mackenzie’s graduate research focused on the application for geospatial technology to solve environmental problems in the agriculture, health and conservation fields. It was in graduate school that Mackenzie discovered her desire to work with data and the usefulness of GIS to solve a myriad of problems on local and global scales.
Service
Mackenzie volunteers with GISCorps as an administrator on their PhotoMappers disaster response project. The PhotoMappers project, now in its ninth year, offers critical situational awareness to emergency managers by crowdsourcing photo geolocation during disasters. In collaboration with GISCorps, NAPSG Foundation, and CEDR Digital Corps, volunteers geolocate disaster photos from social media, which are then vetted for accuracy and displayed on interactive maps and dashboards. These tools enable emergency managers to swiftly assess storm impacts and coordinate their response efforts effectively.
During her time volunteering with the GISCorps, Mackenzie has also contributed to several other critical initiatives, including assisting with the maintenance of a COVID-19 vaccination site dashboard to enhance public access to vaccination information. Additionally, she has supported an environmental non-profit's youth education program by integrating GIS technology to enrich their curriculum. Mackenzie has also worked on the COVID-19 In America project, leveraging her expertise to map and analyze the pandemic's impact across the country, providing valuable insights for public health efforts.
Testimonials
“This collaboration enabled WMHO’s environmental research and education programs to reach new heights. We learned to harness GIS mapping in order to improve the scope and depth of our research capabilities, as well as our abilities to analyze and communicate them in support of our educational mission. Our volunteer, Mackenzie, was thorough, reliable, patient, and comprehensive in her approach with us. She truly listened to our goals and helped to pace us accordingly given our unique resources and capabilities. We are extremely pleased with the results.” – Deborah Boudreau, Education Director of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization
“WMHO greatly appreciates the professionalism and expertise GISCorps volunteer Mackenzie Fox gave WMHO for the creation of this remarkable storytelling tool.” – Dr. Richard Rugen, Chairman of the Board of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization