Mikayla Romero

Hello, everyone! I'm Mikayla, and my professional and academic journey in human rights practice was sparked by my deep appreciation for courses I’ve taken in the social sciences, including anthropology, sociology, and women's studies. I am especially passionate about public service and macro-level social work. Having gained valuable experience working in the federal government through my policy and communications internship with AmeriCorps, I am also eager and curious to explore the NGO sphere of human rights work after I graduate. As an undergraduate student, I chose to create an original podcast series for my senior Capstone project that will examine housing policies and urban development decisions that contribute to the homelessness crisis in Tucson. 

In addition to my passion for social justice, I also enrolled in this program due to the flexibility of its online format, which has allowed me to balance full-time work commitments while pursuing my studies, thus giving me the opportunity to focus on both my academic and professional goals. Additionally, my choice to join the Human Rights Practice program was guided by my belief in its ability to teach me the strategies I need to be an effective human rights practitioner. 

In addition to my internship experience, I am an AmeriCorps member actively helping coordinate the 2024 Tucson Festival of Books. Serving as an ambassador, I collaborate on marketing committees, engaging in promotions, outreach, and school involvement. I also play a role in drafting grant proposals to cultivate partnerships and partake in various community support and outreach initiatives. In 2022, I also served as a student fellow for the Alliance for Citizen Engagement (ACE) on the Human Rights and Equality Team, where I conducted research on food deserts in America to produce a nonpartisan issue brief for ACE’s website.