Ella Mitchell, MIPA
Hometown
Rochester, Minnesota
Undergraduate education
B.A. in International Studies, minors in Public Policy and African Studies from UW–Madison
Expected graduation date
May 2027
Professional/research interests
Social policy, including food systems, housing, and emergency response. In the summer of 2026, I was a Humanitarian Action Fellow with the Duke Global Policy Program in Geneva, Switzerland.
Career goals
I want to build a career helping improve access to public benefit programs like SNAP. I am passionate about reducing the administrative burden of receiving assistance and improving food systems through evidence-based policy. My goal is to gain experience in public and program management in Wisconsin before moving into international food systems and humanitarian response work.
Assistantship
This year, I am the Legislative Outreach Project Assistant for the La Follette School. I was drawn to this position because it lets me connect La Follette students with legislators and policy experts. It is fulfilling to help extend the La Follette School’s outreach into the community, and I get to build my skills in policy communications, networking, and organization.
Most rewarding experience at the La Follette School
The most rewarding experience that I have had at the La Follette School was participating in the Wisconsin in Washington, DC program as a sophomore. I spent a semester interning in the U.S. Senate with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), working on her foreign policy portfolio. In a spring packed with full-time work and courses in the evenings, I learned about the policy-making process firsthand. This experience opened my eyes to new policy interests, including humanitarian action and food security, and taught me how to build and maintain professional connections.
Campus Involvement
I love the outdoors, and I have been involved in the Hoofer Outing Club on campus for five years. I lead backpacking and paddling trips, including a week-long trip to the Boundary Waters. Outside of the club, I love running and rock climbing— I climbed to the top of Devil’s Tower in Wyoming this summer!