Mikayla Kelley

As senior research writer, Mikayla Mace Kelley tells the stories of the fascinating research and high-caliber scientists at the University of Arizona via press releases, press conferences, short videos, and more. Kelley earned her bachelor's degree in 2015 from the U of A in neuroscience and cognitive science and minored in astronomy. In 2017, after earning her master's degree in science journalism, Kelley worked as a science and higher education reporter at the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson. In 2019, she returned to the U of A as a science writer for University Marketing & Communications for five and a half years. She then served as the Public Information Officer for the Tucson-based Planetary Science Institute for two years, where she oversaw news content, the newsletter, social media, and more. In the summer of 2026, she returned to the U of A as a senior research writer. Kelley has written a book chapter for the Palgrave Handbook of Science and Health Journalism (2024) titled "Media Coverage of Space Science and Exploration.