Highline’s new psychology professor overcame tough circumstances to get to where she is today.

Before psychology professor Tylir McKenzie began teaching, she said troubles and trauma led her to drop out of college, but it also led her to where she is today. 

“I suffered significant abuse growing up and through my late teens, which eventually led to me dropping out of college at 19 years old despite having 3 years of college experience,” she said. “[And then] in my 20s, I was homeless and lived on the streets for a significant period of time in Alaska.”

Despite the troubles, professor McKenzie decided to return to school and turn her life around. 

“I moved to Washington and returned to school – at Highline – in my late 20s,” she said. “From there, I continued my education getting my Bachelor of Science at Central Washington University (here at Des Moines campus), Masters of Art at University of Washington in Tacoma, and Doctor of Philosophy at University of Washington in Seattle.” 

“The coolest part? I have gotten the chance to teach at all four schools that I graduated from and best of all got to come back to Highline where it all started,” professor McKenzie said. 

Professor McKenzie said she has been teaching various psychology classes for many years. 

“I predominantly teach Psychology 100, General Psychology; but also Psychology 220, Abnormal Psychology; and Psychology 202, Biopsychology,” she said. “I have been teaching psychology for over 10 years with experience focused on gender, sexuality, indigenous/native psychology, body image, sexual violence, and trauma.”

Professor McKenzie said she found her new position at Highline exciting as she would be returning to her former college, where she had a wonderful experience. 

“Highline was truly my dream job. As a Highline graduate (’07), I loved my experience at Highline and it laid such a foundation for my own academic success,” she said. “So, when I applied for the one-year position last year, it was always with the hope that I would get a permanent position one day. And then, when I was hired for the tenure-track position this year, I absolutely could not have been happier.” 

Furthermore, professor McKenzie has already set goals for the year by focusing on students getting the help they need. 

“Helping with the development and creation of a physical Q center space for LGBTQIA+ students and allies. Working on disability justice projects for accessibility and support of students, staff, and faculty with disabilities. Hosting more tie-dye events. Getting students psyched about psych and building a hands-on practical psych lab for students,” she said.

Professor McKenzie wraps up what she plans to change at Highline in three simple phrases. 

“Creating change, advocating for students, and most of all – making education fun again,” she said. 

Connecting with her students has not only impacted professor McKenzie’s teaching career, but her personal life as well, she said. 

“Teaching has been an amazing aspect of my life. Every class, every quarter, I learn new things from students about their lives, their experiences, the good and the bad, the triumphs and the struggles,” she said. “All of this has not only made me a better teacher, but a better human in the world.”

Despite the trauma and troubles throughout her life, professor McKenzie said she managed to find purpose in teaching. 

“It also saved my life, I didn’t really know what to do with my life when I started back here at Highline in 2007, but I found great mentors who encouraged me to become a teacher – even when I did not think I could,” she said. “And guess what? They were right, I was made for the teaching life. It is what I do, it is what I love, and it is what gives me hope and energy for the future.”

Professor Tylir McKenzie strives to move forward with her life by focusing on teaching and her students, but also having a sense of humor.   

She describes herself as, “AWESOMESAUCE,” she said.