Mikaela Anderson

Mikaela Anderson is a doctoral candidate in the School Psychology program at the University of Southern Mississippi. A native of Brandon, Mississippi, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alabama before beginning her career in education. She first served as an assistant teacher and later worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in Jackson, Mississippi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she transitioned into the classroom as a fifth-grade English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, where her passion for supporting students’ academic and social-emotional development continued to grow.

Motivated to combine her backgrounds in psychology and education, Mikaela pursued doctoral training in school psychology. Her clinical experiences include conducting psychoeducational evaluations, providing counseling services, engaging in systems-level consultation, consulting with educators and families, and providing psychoeducation to the communities she serves.  Her professional interests include reading comprehension interventions, student engagement, evidence-based instructional practices, restorative practices, and expanding equitable access to educational and mental health services for children and adolescents.

Outside of her professional work, Mikaela is an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan and enjoys cheering on fellow University of Alabama alumnus Jalen Hurts. She also enjoys cooking, watching movies, and exploring music across a wide variety of genres.