Deborah McKenzie is an award winning and nationally recognized higher education author, thought-coach, consultant, instructor, and speaker. She provides independent strategic consultation with families and college student affairs professionals on career, academic, and college success programs and planning targeting timely graduation, reduction of excess college tuition and fees, and retention. Deborah is passionate about being a “change agent” for social and emotional intelligence and identity development among students in higher education for success in life and the workforce.

Deborah’s personal mantra is “helping is not rescue but facilitation.” She has given numerous presentations on career development, vocational/academic identity, college retention, grit and resilience, and predictive analytics for college support services at multiple higher education events (such as NACADA, ASHE, Decision Sciences Institute, and ACA). She received a BS from Old Dominion University, a MA in Counselor Education from the University of South Florida, and completed three years of doctoral study in Education Psychology from the University of South Florida. She is a Certified Career Counselor endorsed by the National Career Development Association and a Florida Certified Workforce Professional. She is the president of RLM Strategic Consulting, LLC, a consulting group that specializes in admission and financial planning for college retention and timely graduation.