2026 Equal Justice Conference

"I kept looking for somebody to solve the problem and then I realized... I am somebody.” This phrase serves as the personal mission statement for Debra D. McKenzie, Director of Administration, Central California Legal Services where she is responsible for helping advocates champion the firm’s mission to advance justice and empower people while continuing the journey of pivoting the organization to be more insights, data, and dynamics focused. McKenzie helps drive infrastructure development and core values through administration of human resources, fiscal services, and information technology that delivers innovation while assisting the Executive Director in managing the overall operations of CCLS. McKenzie’s goals and interests have always had a focus on improving outcomes for young people and creating environments where they can grow and thrive as positive, happy people. She received her bachelor of arts with honors in youth development from Concordia University, St. Paul and master’s in business administration with a healthcare management emphasis from Regis University in Denver. Before joining CCLS, McKenzie spent 15 years in the non-profit sector and eight in local government. As a senior manager in the state office of the California Friday Night Live Partnership, she transitioned the 55-county organization from focusing solely on prevention of risky health behaviors to incorporating researched-based youth development practices. McKenzie entered the public sector as the county of Fresno's first gang task force coordinator. The county gained national recognition for its Never-Give-Up Initiative and six-city collaborative gang and juvenile delinquency prevention efforts. In 2014 she joined the County Administrator’s Office of San Joaquin County as its senior deputy county administrator and liaison to the Board of Supervisors for all health and general services departments, followed by a move to City of Madera overseeing and advancing the city’s transit services both in scope, service, and reduction of green-house gas emissions. A self-proclaimed military-brat raised primarily in Arlington, Texas, McKenzie lives in Fresno with her husband Charles McKenzie, a Fresno native and professional geologist with the California Department of Water Resources. She is also an AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni, where she worked to improve youth access and implementation of technology in central California as part of the Central Valley Digital Network.