Mackenzie Neal (Quapaw Nation) is the National Program Manager, Leadership Pathways for Advance Native Political Leadership. In this role, she cultivates meaningful relationships with Native elected and appointed officials, Native Leadership Institute alumni, and talented Indigenous professionals across the United States to expand Advance’s networks and connect both emerging and experienced leaders to opportunities and resources at the local, state, tribal, and federal level.
Prior to joining Advance, Mackenzie served as a Branch Chief under the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Trust Services, where she directed workforce and leadership development programs for Native youth and young professionals in the fields of natural resource management, climate resilience, and tribal policy.
Mackenzie earned a Bachelor’s in Government from the College of William & Mary in 2018. She is an alumna of the Native American Political Leadership Program (‘16) and is a former Udall Undergraduate Scholar in Tribal Policy (‘17).
Mackenzie speaks Japanese and enjoys practicing both Indigenous and Japanese customs at home with her partner, James, who is Japanese-American. She lives in Fredericksburg, VA, and in her personal time, you’ll likely find her delving into a D&D campaign, baking matcha macarons, or spoiling her Shiba Inu and two cats.