February 5, 2025
By Mikey Fuller

Staff member Courtney Sykes has been named the inaugural alumni program manager in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, effective February 1, 2025.

With more than 26,000 living alumni, Sykes will be tasked with creating a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy in this new role. She will continue to work closely with the Woodruff School's development office as well as the Georgia Tech Alumni Association to enhance its mission of championing and serving alumni and the Institute through programming and engagement that fosters lifelong relationships and philanthropic support.

In her previous role as a senior development assistant, Sykes gained extensive experience in collaborating with stakeholders, enhancing alumni engagement, and pioneering successful development and alumni initiatives and events such as the ME Shaping the World Speaker Series and Woodruff School Homecoming Tailgate. She provided strategic support for stewardship initiatives, impact reporting, gift acknowledgments, and scholarship and fellowship coordination. Additionally, she managed alumni communications, served as a liaison with the communications team, and provided administrative support to the associate director and senior director of development.

Sykes also played a vital role in the creation of the Woodruff Young Alumni Council (YAC) and served as its primary advisor. The YAC promotes a culture of giving and engagement among mechanical and nuclear engineering students and recent graduates by providing targeted professional development, amplifying entrepreneurial impact, and enhancing the student and young alumni experience. In addition, Sykes supported the Woodruff School Advisory Board. As alumni program manager, Sykes will continue to engage with the YAC and advisory board.

Jaimie Hayes, senior director of development in the Woodruff School, says she is excited to see Sykes’ transition to this new role. 

“I am thrilled to see Courtney’s work over the past two years evolve into the new role of alumni program manager,” Hayes says. “This position is an integral part of our School Chair’s vision to engage more alumni in meaningful ways and support the Woodruff Strong initiative.”

Sykes, a Florida native, has more than 15 years of experience as a higher education administrator. She joined Georgia Tech in November 2016 as a faculty support coordinator in the Woodruff School where she supported the Heat Lab and assisted with event management, community outreach, and budget administration. Sykes has also worked at Florida International University as an assistant director of training and international research initiatives, and program manager for the MBRS RISE Fellowship Program.

Beyond her professional role, she is deeply committed to service. She is passionate about relationship-building, community advocacy, and creating meaningful and mutually beneficial connections that foster growth and opportunity. Sykes is an active member of the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Greater Atlanta Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. She received her B.S. in sociology with a certificate in leadership studies from Florida State University and an M.S. in higher education administration from Florida International University.