Mechel McKinney, MBA, RHIA, has collectively practiced in the health information field since 1996 with extensive experience in the healthcare continuum from rural critical access hospitals to urban healthcare systems and health information management, higher education with online emphasis. She brings her diverse experience and well-rounded background to the Council on Excellence in Education. Mechel has experience as program director of the health information technology (HIT) program at Central New Mexico Community College and interim director/assistant professor at the Missouri Western State University’s health information management (HIM) program. Currently, she serves as full-time faculty at Bryan University's Healthcare program.

Mechel's professional affiliations include being President of the NMHIMA in 2007 and 2021, serving on various AHIMA task forces and committees, being a peer reviewer for the AHIMA Perspectives in Health Information Management publication, and serving on a community college distance learning advisory committee. Mechel believes in lifelong learning and personal development. She holds a master’s degree from American Public University, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix, and a health information technology associate degree from the University of New Mexico. Certifications include the RHIA, project management essentials, Quality Matters Peer/Course Reviewer, and Google Data Analytics.