Mickala is an M.S. student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Their passion for ecology, environmental sustainability, and public health began in childhood through participation in programs at the Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center (Millersville, MD). They currently work as a graduate research assistant in a toxicology lab, where they combine their interests in biochemistry and environmental science through the study of the toxicology of PFAS in the zebrafish model. Beyond research, Mickala holds a position as an Academic Advisor for the Commonwealth Honors College. They are also an active member of their campus's Black Lavender Collective. After graduating, they plan to pursue a PhD in Conservation Science.