Education

Ph.D. Candidate in Atmospheric Science, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa – 08/2017 to present
M.A. Climate and Society, Columbia University – 10/2016
B.S. Environmental Science, Northeastern University – 5/2014
     Minors in Marine Studies and Spanish

Undergraduate Research Experience

Marine Biological Laboratory – Woods Hole, MA – 6/2014 to 10/2014
Summer Research Assistant
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute – Woods Hole, MA – 1/2013 to 6/2013
Guest Student

Relevant Professional Experience

Center for Climate Systems Research – New York, NY – 10/2015 to 10/2016
Graduate Student Intern
Antarctic Support Contract – South Pole Station, Antarctica – 11/2014 to 2/2015
Meteorologist

Presentations

American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting – Chicago, IL –12/16/2022
McKenna, M. & Karamperidou, C. “Impacts of El Niño Flavors on Northern Hemisphere Blocking.” [Digital Poster]. 
UH Mānoa Department of Atmospheric Science Student Research Symposium – Honolulu, HI –11/17/2021
McKenna, M. “The response of atmospheric blocking to El Niño diversity.” PowerPoint.
MBL Undergraduate Research Symposium – Woods Hole, MA – 8/20/2014
McKenna, M., Tully, K., Neill, C. “Patterns of nitrogen loss from agriculture in East Africa: the role of soil type.” PowerPoint.

Publications

Peters, D., Bader, D., McKenna, M., Marconi, B., Shrestha, R., Bartlett, R., Lesk, C., De Mel, M., and Horton, R. 2017. Climate Change in the Snow Leopard Landscapes of Asia’s High Mountains: Technical Report. New York, NY, USA: Center for Climate Systems Research and Columbia University and WWF-US.
Tully, K.L., Hickman, J., McKenna, M., Neill, C., Palm, C.A. 2016. Effects of fertilizer on inorganic soil N in East Africa maize systems: vertical distributions and temporal dynamics. Ecological Applications, 26: 1907–1919. DOI: 10.1890/15-1518.1

Awards

Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology – 2019 to 2022
NASA 19-EARTH19-0189: The Impact of ENSO Flavors on Atmospheric Blocking Occurrence and Interhemispheric Atmospheric Pathways.
Thomas A. Schroeder Award for Outstanding Student Research Presentation in Climate – 2021
This honor was received for an exceptional presentation of climate research at the UH Mānoa Department of Atmospheric Science’s student research symposium.

Leadership and Service

President – Graduate Women in Science Hawai’i – 2019 to 2021
Volunteer Chair – Expanding Your Horizons Hawai’i – 2020
Secretary – Graduate Women in Science Hawai’i – 2018 to 2019

Recent STEM Outreach and Volunteering

Hā Initiative: Creative STEAM After-School Program – Honolulu Community Action Program – May 7, 2021
Guest Speaker
Girls on the Run – Kapiolani Park, Honolulu – November 16, 2019
Presenter
SOEST Open House – UH Mānoa, Honolulu – October 25 & 26, 2019
Presenter
Girls on the Run – Magic Island, Honolulu – April 20, 2019
Presenter
Sharks in the Library! – Kapolei Public Library – March 16, 2019
Presenter
Be a Scientist Night – Institute for Human Services, Honolulu – December 7, 2018
Presenter
Kids Who Code – Kapolei Public Library, Hawaii – November 3, 2018
Presenter
Expanding Your Horizons Hawai’i – UH Mānoa, Honolulu – April 21, 2018
Volunteer

Memberships and Certifications

American Geophysical Union – Member – 2016 to present
American Meteorological Society – Member – 2016 to present
Graduate Women in Science Hawai’i – Member – 2017 to present
American Association of University Women, Honolulu Chapter – 2022 to present

Contact and Connect

Email: mmck at hawaii dot edu