Mackenzie Kelly

The Honorable Mackenzie Kelly joined the Meadows Institute with over 15 years of experience in public service, including local government leadership, public safety, and mental health advocacy.

Prior to joining the Institute, Mackenzie served as a member of the Austin City Council, where she represented District 6 covering both Travis and Williamson Counties. She authored and passed 42 policies during her term, many focused on public safety and community well-being. Mackenzie was instrumental in life-saving initiatives such as expanding the whole blood program for EMS and opening the first police-community engagement center in her district. She also successfully reinstated the automated license plate reader program for the Austin Police Department. In addition to her council work, Mackenzie is an advanced certified firefighter with over a decade of volunteer service, starting at the Jollyville Fire Department.

In her role, Mackenzie leverages her public safety expertise and policy-making experience to promote strategies that will deliver more effective and efficient mental health care for Texans.

Mackenzie’s deep commitment to emergency preparedness and public safety extends to her educational pursuits; she is currently completing a bachelor’s degree in emergency management at West Texas A&M University. A lifelong Texan, she enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors with her family, and volunteering in her local community.