Be the change you want to see.

As press secretary for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Mikayla Hall is doing just that.

Mikayla’s earliest political memory is of accidentally voting for Bill Clinton in 1996 during a mock election at her elementary school. 

“I went home and cried because I thought my fake vote made him win,” she said.

Born in Minnesota, Mikayla also considers Washington state one of her home states, having spent a decade in both. 

While studying Communication at the University of Washington, Mikayla joined Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) as a freshman after being recruited by a Leadership Institute (LI) field rep.  Eventually, she became YAL’s first Northwest Regional Director, organizing students in 10 states.

“LI is a toolkit.  You can use its material to build yourself the steps to a career in politics, with opportunities to practice through their internship and field program,” she said.

Mikayla first met Michele Bachmann while interning for LI in 2011.  After learning Bachmann represents the part of Minnesota Mikayla is from, she applied for an internship in the congresswoman’s office.  Three years later, she has worked her way up to press secretary. 

One of the things that attracted Mikayla to Bachmann was Bachmann’s focus on serving her local community.  Rather than relying on problems to fix themselves, Bachmann decided to be proactive – to be part of the solution as a congresswoman.  As press secretary, one of Mikayla’s priorities is to show that the congresswoman genuinely cares about the future of the U.S. and takes action accordingly. 

Besides not knowing what to do with her hands during Bachmann’s interviews and photo shoots, the most difficult challenge Mikayla faces is the unpredictability of politics.  “You never know what breaking news will come up each day,” said Mikayla, “and depending on what it is, it can affect messaging, scheduling, and legislation.”

Mikayla credited LI for helping hone the skills she uses daily.  “LI invests in their interns and encourages them to embrace their interests, and it’s made all the difference,” she said.

Mikayla will be lecturing at LI’s upcoming Comprehensive Online Activist School - her favorite training when she was an intern.  Her advice for aspiring online activists is twofold: don’t be boring, and present yourself well by keeping your internet presence polished, updated, and interactive.

“You know you’re a Conservative, you know what you love, and you know what you want to do, and LI is there to help you figure out how to do it,” she said.

Action, not concern, is the key to results.  Mikayla is proof.

Please congratulate Mikayla Hall for receiving LI’s Conservative Leader-In-Training Award.

To nominate a Leadership Institute graduate or faculty member for the Conservative Leader Award or Conservative Leader-In-Training Award, please contact LI's Director of External Affairs Carol Wehe, at Carol@LeadershipInstitute.org.

The Leadership Institute offers over 40 types of training programs, working with more than 1,441 conservative campus groups, and helping employers connect with conservative jobseekers. Since the Institute’s 1979 founding, more than 143,000 conservative activists, students, and leaders have been trained. Graduates include members of Congress, state legislators, local officials, media personalities, and conservative organization leaders. For more information, please visit: www.LeadershipInstitute.org.