Jenny Mackenzie

Jennifer Mackenzie, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., (born in Chicago,IL 1962 in), is a licensed clinical social worker, as well as a director and producer of documentary films focusing on human-interest stories. Mackenzie is recognized in the area of social work for her accomplishments in doctoral research.

Education

Jennifer Mackenzie holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a Master of Social Work from . She completed her post-graduate studies at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. Mackenzie received her Ph.D. from the University of Utah and wrote her dissertation on multi-generational patterns in adolescent pregnancy. After 20 years on the front line as a social worker helping to run nonprofit organizations, she went back to film school to pursue one of her life long passions—documentary film making.

Early Life-Career

With over 20 years of experience in the field of social work, Mackenzie has worked in positions ranging from tutor, to a clinical consultant, to chief program officer. She began her career as a volunteer tutor and counselor at the Jericho Society of Brown University for Juvenile Delinquents.

During her time in New York, she worked at the Floating Hospital. After that Mackenzie joined Union Hospital Community Day School in Massachusetts, engaging in long-term psychotherapy with children, adolescents and families, as well as crisis intervention and intake evaluations. From there Mackenzie spent time as a social worker at McLean Hospital and managing inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy, family assessments, discharge planning and fulfilling the role as a liaison with community agencies.

While working for the National Jewish Medical and Research Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver, Colorado, Mackenzie worked as a coordinator for family therapy training. As director of the outpatient day treatment program, she continued utilizing her skills in psychotherapy, while coordinating a sex education program for 9-16 year olds.

Eventually, Mackenzie ended up in Salt Lake City, Utah, working with the YWCA. As the clinical consultant there, she supervised all the social work involving the battered women’s shelter, residential self-sufficiency programs and teen pregnancy programs.

As the chief program officer at the YWCA, Mackenzie supervised and administrated the following eight programs at the YWCA:

* Battered women’s shelter
* Children’s services
* Residential self sufficiency program
* KRH transitional housing program
* Prevention services
* Teen pregnancy group home
* Health promotions services
* Child care services

Academic Appointments

1995-2005
Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses in the department of Social Work.

1992-1995
Volunteer Faculty Member, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado. Supervision and training of social work and psychology interns and child
Psychiatry fellows. Teaching of graduate seminar in family therapy.

Filmography

Mackenzie is the executive director at Jenny Mackenzie Films.
Jenny Mackenzie Films produces films that focus on real people, true stories and inspirational moments. These films integrate Mackenzie’s 20 years of nonprofit and social work experience and help reach a wide audience to create social change.

Where’s Herbie? With warmth, humor, and humility Herbie Loveitt, a 91-year-old working lobsterman from Georgetown, Maine shares his philosophy on aging, death and the risks of retirement. Herbie shows us how to live the last years of ones life to the fullest. This award-winning documentary short has playing at festivals all over the country and will air on several PBS stations in the summer of 2008.

Kick Like A Girl is the story of what happens when “The Mighty Cheetahs,” an undefeated all-girls soccer team, competes in the boys division.

With humor and candor this documentary gets at the heart of the boy-girl issues and explores what "Kick Like A Girl" really means on and off the playing field. Refreshing and triumphant Kick Like A Girl reminds us all of the lessons learned in competitive athletics and how sports has been one of the most effective instruments of social change in our lifetime. This documentary will premier at the 23rd International Film Festival in February 2008, then go on to many other festivals and to a broadcast release. It has been nominated for a “Biliie’ (Jean King) award for the positive portrayal of girls in the media.

Awards and Honors

1998 William McPhee Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Doctoral Research

1996 Jamal O’Jack Scholarship for Academic Achievement and Promise in Doctoral Research

1987 Nomination for Outstanding Young Women of America

Personal life

Mackenzie currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband Chip, their three daughters and their 12-pounds Cairn terrier, Lulu.

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See Also

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