A Lifelong Commitment to Public Service
From a high school internship with the mayor’s office to serving as student body president of her college, Makaila has had a single-minded focus on public service from the start. It’s a calling that has taken her places: out of her home state for her undergrad, study abroad in Spain, a master’s degree in Beijing, and now, Washington, DC, where she’s working at the White House.
From South Bend to Future U.S. Senator
Makaila’s passion for public service began in high school when she served as an intern for Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of her hometown, South Bend, Indiana. He would later become the youngest person ever to serve as Secretary of Transportation, and she describes seeing his day-to-day life and his policy achievements at such a young age as a tremendous inspiration.
After heading to Pennsylvania for college, she applied for fellowships to continue her studies internationally and was selected as a 2021 Truman Scholar in recognition of her dedication to public service. After a stint at the Commerce Department focused on international trade, she went to Beijing to study at Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar, graduating with a Master of Global Affairs in July 2023. Today, she is working at the White House and aspires to one day serve as a U.S. Senator.
Building Community for Tomorrow
When it came to attending college out of state, Makaila describes how the experience had an impact on her life: “I really loved being away from home for college. I think that’s exactly what I needed in order to become the person I am today.” That meant finding her footing in a new place and building community far from home.
She encourages Dell Scholars to take advantage of their college years to build a strong community. She was involved in student government as a junior and senior, including as student body president during senior year, roles which pushed her to build relationships across the entire campus: “I always wanted to make sure that I was willing to listen to people’s perspectives. I see myself as an advocate on other people’s behalf, so by understanding what they say, I can better the systems that we live in.”
