Mikyla Bethune
Research & Development Associate
Mikyla Bethune serves as the Research & Development Associate at Alliance for Vision Research, where she supports research and policy initiatives that advance federal investment in vision science. In this role, she contributes to the development of advocacy materials, policy briefings, and research communications that help connect scientific discoveries with policymakers and stakeholders on Capitol Hill.
Mikyla is a recent graduate of American University’s Global Scholars Program, where she earned her degree in Foreign Policy with a regional focus on Russia and Eastern Europe. Since her undergraduate years, she has been actively involved in public policy and advocacy, beginning as an intern with the National Organization for Women before gaining additional experience working with nonprofits and policy organizations in Washington, D.C.
She also served as an American Youth Ambassador in Paris, where she worked on initiatives addressing women’s health in conflict zones and crisis regions. Through these experiences, she developed a strong interest in the intersection of policy, global health, and advocacy.
At Alliance for Vision Research, Mikyla is excited to bring her policy background into the vision research space and help advance conversations about how healthcare policy and scientific research intersect at the federal level.