Dr. McKenney received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rowan University. She joined the St. Olaf faculty in 2026 and teaches courses including Psychopathology (247) and Clinical and Counseling Psychology (375). Her research focuses on supporting the wellbeing of autistic adolescents and adults, with emphases on the transition to adulthood, healthy relationships and sexual consent communication, and predictors of depression symptomatology in autistic people. She believes deeply in community-engaged methods of research and gets great joy out of collaborating with neurodiverse community members, students, and interdisciplinary scholars to conduct applied research. 

Outside of her work, Dr. McKenney enjoys taking dance classes, exploring new coffee shops, and reading (especially mystery or fantasy) with her cat Maisy on her lap. 

You can learn more about her background and research here.