Mackenzie Pope serves as the Director of Operations for the Applied Research Institute (ARI) initiative at NC East Alliance. Since joining NC East in September 2024, she has supported the organization in multiple capacities, including economic development, program coordination, and research, before stepping into her current leadership role.

Prior to NC East, Mackenzie worked in operations with the NC State University football team, managing team logistics including travel coordination, scheduling, and personnel administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from North Carolina State University, with minors in Business Administration and Psychology.