About
Mackensi is a 1st year PhD student in the Joint Program in English and Education and a Rackham Merit Fellow. Drawing from her experiences as a Black student and teacher, she is passionate about reimagining English Education as more expansive and inclusive of marginalized voices. Specifically, Mackensi is interested in how Black American music and oral traditions can facilitate literary study, cultural preservation, and critical literacy praxis in secondary classrooms.
Prior to joining the Univeristy of Michigan, Mackensi taught high school English and humanities in progressive independent schools in Colorado and Kentucky. In addition to traditional English courses, she has designed and instructed a myriad of interdisciplinary courses including AP African American Studies, Black Music Studies, and Oral Literatures and Traditions. Her work with students extended beyond the classroom, serving as a basketball coach and DEIB committee member in her school. Mackensi also has extensive experience as a writing and research coach, working univeristy writing centers and as a director of a Senior Project Program.
Her classroom practices have inspired several publications. She is a curricular collaborator with the popular educational nonprofit Teach Rock, publishing free lesson plans for secondary teachers focused on Black popular music of the 60s and 70s. Mackensi has also published reflections and writings on her work in popular education outlets like Edutopia,and in academic spaces such as English Journal. Mackensi has presented on race, identity, and literacy at The National Conference for Teachers of English and The Independent School Association of the Central States.
