May 1, 2026
“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,” says the advertising and public relations major. “So, I started learning braille and lots of other skills focused on accessibility for folks with visual impairments.”
Soon, she began working as a braille transcriber for Lincoln Public Schools to increase accessibility for students like her daughter across the district. Six years later, Mikayla 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.”
To her surprise, Mikayla learned shortly after her acceptance to Nebraska that she’d been awarded a unique scholarship that bridged her personal experience with her career goals — and even connected her with a professional mentor.
“I received the Eleanor Creative Scholarship, which is given to CoJMC students who’ve been in the foster care system,” she says of the scholarship awarded by the local creative agency Eleanor. “Because of it, 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, Mikayla will be working as a brand strategist for Jact, the college’s student-run ad agency, to her journey toward aligning her goals and 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. I’m so excited to see where I can help make sure that all communities are being served wherever possible — especially in our local communities.”
Mikayla Teet is a senior advertising and public relations major from Roca, NE.