Area man follows path to Washington | News, sports, jobs

WASHINGTON – Mykal Drosdal has always been driven by a desire to challenge himself and pursue what felt right at every stage of his life.

From switching majors to furthering his education, he remained open to new opportunities, even if it meant moving.

It was Washington DC that invoked him in a special way.

When the position of executive assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior opened up, Drosdal knew it was the perfect opportunity – a role he couldn’t pass up.

“I still have my moments where I take it all in. I’m really here,’ said Drosdal. “I knew my career was moving towards DC”

Originally studying mass communications at Minot State University with plans to pursue journalism, Drosdal’s plans quickly changed after his first class with Neil Roberts, associate professor of professional communications.

“During my very first class as a freshman, I took radioactivity. It was a three hour class and we had gone through the introductions,” Drosdal remembers. “I remember saying that I really wanted to do this and this, and without missing a beat, he said, ‘You know what? You should go into broadcasting. Just look at it for a few weeks.” He spoke with me after class and told me which careers would be right up my alley. Immediately afterwards I went to the student building and spoke to my advisor.”

After graduating in 2020, the Broadcasting and Professional Communications major did not yet feel like his higher education journey was over. With the help of his advisor, former MSU professor Christina Paxman, he moved to Fargo and attended North Dakota State University for his master’s degree in communications.

After Drosdal completed his master’s degree, he got a job back in his hometown of New Town as a marketing manager for his tribe at the MHA Nation Interpretive Center. He grew up on the Fort Berthold Reservation and is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

“I really enjoyed working with tribes in North Dakota. We were expanding and were very, very new,” he said. ‘But I just had the idea that I wanted to leave ND and see what I could do with my master’s degree. I absolutely loved working with my people and it was a great experience, but I had to think about what I wanted.”

A former colleague reached out about the opportunity to make that happen.

“Someone had contacted a former colleague of mine from Denver. He worked for the Casey Family Program, a non-profit organization, and more specifically from their Indian Child Welfare Program where they were looking for an administrative specialist,” said Drosdal. “She said: take your chance and go for it. I finally applied and got the job. I was their administration specialist for their WP team for two years.”

Although Drosdal loved his work, he again felt the pull to move east.

‘I just felt a strange calling’ he described. “I remember visiting Washington DC twice in my life before moving here, and on both occasions I knew I would be back for some reason. Just the call of it. I knew my career was heading towards DC”

The call came as an executive assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior.

“It was one of those things. I have everything. I have the qualifications. I’m going to roll the dice and see where it lands,’ said Drosdal. “I was approved for the interview. A few weeks later they gave permission to move here. I was like, wow, I’m just going to move across the country again, just on the East Coast.

He stuck with his gut feeling and moved to Washington, DC, where he has been working in his new role since May.

“Currently I am focusing on the trips for three directors, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development Kathryn Isom-Clause, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Wizipan Garriott , as well as several other political appointments within our office. I take them from point A to point B,” said Drosdal. “I’m very excited to get through my first year, but going forward I just want to focus on working on new skills to help my team and department.

“I feel like I’m getting a good handle on my travels, but there are a few things I want to get better at, especially traveling around to make it easier for me to provide assistance as we prepare for the transition within this next possible government.”

Not only has he learned on the job, but he’s also expanding his social circle in DC.

“Something I wanted to be better at in moving from Denver to DC compared to North Dakota to Denver. I really spent a lot of time waiting for life to happen to me, so I didn’t really start anything. Then when I moved to DC, my biggest thing was I wanted to get into competitions,” said Drosdal. “I first want to make sure that I make friends, make contacts and network as best as possible. I didn’t want to wait this summer, so I immediately started playing volleyball, flag football and kickball leagues, to get a feel for the people in my area.

“I like to get word of mouth referrals from people who have just moved here or are from here,” he added. “You can find your own community just by going out and actually doing something.”

For Drosdal, this proactive approach fits perfectly with his personal philosophy.

“Sometimes I am a teacher, but I am forever a student.”