Mackensie Disbennett (she/her/hers), MSW, is a research specialist in the School of Social Work (SSW) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). She joined the SSW staff in June of 2022, and currently works with the Collaborative for Implementation Practice (CIP). In her role, Mackensie conducts research and provides technical assistance on implementation science best practices across several projects involving collaboration with public sector systems and philanthropic organizations.
Mackensie previously served as a research assistant for the Behavioral Health & Criminal Legal System Lab at UNC-CH where she engaged in implementation-focused projects assessing intervention effectiveness and fidelity within probation and family justice center settings. She has also had prior experience working as a grant coordinator for a Maryland-based nonprofit organization serving youth in the K-12 education system.
She received a dual Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Work from Salisbury University. She went on to obtain a Master of Social Work from UNC-CH where she specialized in community, management, and policy practice.