“The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you into eternity.”  Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey

As the first born to the theologian, activist and teacher duo Reverend Dr. Horace Russell and Vice-Principal Beryl, Dr. Elisabeth “Liz” Russell McKenzie was destined to serve through her profession, passions, and purpose. A facilitator of change and architect for future minds, Dr. Russell McKenzie has positively impacted the lives of persons from underrepresented communities and minds full of potential for almost five decades. The footprints in the sands of her legacy can be found in Jamaica where she began her journey at Calabar High School. With only a few years age difference between her and the students she initially guided, Liz learned early how to leverage the common bonds that exist to engage and empower her audience.

Those same legacy footprints can be found in Philadelphia where, as a researcher, advisor, and program director of the Maximizing Access to Research Careers program at Temple University, she has successfully lead generations of young scientists from minoritized populations boldly enabling them to conquer underrepresented territory. Liz is also a lecturer at Eastern University in Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychology – training early childhood educators based in urban environments. She is vested in the successful transition of Black and brown scholars to the next phases of their careers, by ensuring that each scholar receives the personal and professional development, and individual mentoring, advising, and counseling necessary for individual success.

Preferring to lead from behind, a quiet storm, she uses her natural-born gifts to provide culturally sound and inspirational instruction. A free spirit, Dr. Russell McKenzie’s longstanding philosophy disrupts the status quo, encouraging all whom have come under the sound of her voice to “dream big” and think outside of the box. A rebel with a cause, she uses her proficiency in the sciences and the arts to provoke thoughtful dialogue and galvanize people towards positive and productive outcomes.

A supporter and promoter of Caribbean philanthropic initiatives, Dr. Liz, is a former Chair of the Jamaican Diaspora Northeast Education Sector. More recently, through a joint venture with Culturally Congruent Solutions, the Caribbean Care Collaborative (3C) was created; seeking community-based partnerships to leverage culturally sensitive program development, execution, and sustainability. 3C activated the Infrastructure Rejuvenation Initiatives in Education #IRIE project in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In facilitating these ventures, Liz leverages her vast network of relationships created over the years through her family’s contributions.

An entrepreneur in her own right, through her evaluation firm ELJ Consulting she has completed over 350 evaluations at more than fifty universities, colleges, medical schools, professional societies, or community-based organizations. The future is bright because Dr. Elisabeth Russell McKenzie has been a beacon of light for our future leaders.