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When Mikayla Teet decided to come to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln after already starting a career, she brought more than a desire to learn — she brought a deeply personal motivation to expand her impact.
“I’m a mom of three, and my oldest daughter is visually impaired. As we were navigating what the world would look like for her, I wanted to make sure that I was as accessible to her as possible,” said Teet, an advertising and public relations major from Roca, Nebraska. “I started learning braille and lots of other skills focused on accessibility for folks with visual impairments.”
She later began working as a braille transcriber for Lincoln Public Schools to help increase accessibility for students like her daughter across the district. Six years later, Teet decided Nebraska and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications were the right next step for her career.
“I started to realize that I would love to position myself as a creative person with a nonprofit, specifically helping with communications, messaging and engagement that utilize the skillsets I bring from being involved with the disability community,” she said.
After being accepted, Teet learned she had been awarded the Eleanor Creative Scholarship, given to College of Journalism and Mass Communications students who have been in the foster care system. The award also connects recipients with professional mentorship.
“I received the Eleanor Creative Scholarship,” she said. “Because of it, I was able to meet with the CEO and get different insights into her experience. Right away, I got my first professional networking opportunity I’d ever had in the industry.”
This fall, Teet will work as a brand strategist for Jacht, the college’s student-run ad agency, aligning her academic path with her passions.
“It’s so amazing that students have this opportunity to experience a real ad agency, and I’m really looking forward to digging into the work,” she said. “I’m excited to see where I can help make sure that all communities are being served wherever possible — especially in our local communities.”
