She received a BA in English and Art & Design from Western Oregon University and a MFA in Creative Writing & Poetics from University of Washington Bothell. Mikayla is an Associate Poetry Editor & Staff Writer at The Vagabond’s Verse literary magazine. Her written work is included in The Vagabond’s Verse, Lurch Zine, and Prickly Pear Magazine. 

Throughout her college education, Mikayla found that creating intricate artwork helped to ease sensory and emotional struggles prompted by her neurodivergence. She began creating works she describes as “intricacy for a world at odds.” She also began to create zines, printed annually, to document her artistic escapades throughout the years. 

Mikayla’s recent poetic and artistic work focuses on perceiving and interacting with the world through a neurodivergent, feminine lens, often including visual or interactive elements. She is fascinated by the ways that poetic and artistic expression overlap, as well as all things analog, tactile, and mixed-medium. Her current favorite creative modalities include film photography, fiber arts, and use of second-hand materials.