Austin P. McKenzie

McKenzie grew up in Mesa, Arizona. When he was young, he wanted to become a music minister, even though his family did not regularly attend church.

Starting at age fifteen, McKenzie spent six summers assisting at a summer camp for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities called Lions Camp Tatiyee. The camp was his first contact with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and inspired him to enroll at Columbia College Chicago, where he studied American Sign Language and Childhood Education with the intention of becoming a special educator. He graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in American Sign Language and Vocal Performance.

During high school, McKenzie had a casual involvement in the arts and was involved with some theatre, but did not see it as a possible career.