Mikala Parnell joined The Rockefeller Foundation in 2023 as the Project 55 Fellow on the Innovation team. In her role, she works across the Innovation portfolio to support team operations, data science projects, and grants management.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Mikala was a researcher for the Ida B. Wells JUST Data Lab where she oversaw projects related to health equity, technology ethics, and racial justice. She additionally helped grow and develop a community-based mapping platform to combat gerrymandering in her role as Strategy and Outreach Coordinator at the social impact start up Representable.org.
Mikala has received multiple commendations for her commitment to public service, most notably the Scholar in the Nation’s Service (SINSI) Dean’s Award in 2020 and the Project 55 Fellowship in 2023. She graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Public and International Affairs.