February 17, 2026
By Tracie Troha

Two staff members from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering have been selected to participate in the 2026 spring cohort of Georgia Tech’s Culture Champion Academy. Jamya Amosun, financial associate, and Kierra Payne, program and operations manager, will join peers from across campus to develop inclusive leadership skills and help strengthen workplace culture.

For Amosun, the decision to apply stemmed from her experience serving on the College of Engineering Staff Culture Advisory Council (COESCAC).

“Serving as my department’s COESCAC representative showed me how culture directly affects people’s experiences,” Amosun said. “Hearing colleagues’ concerns inspired me to become a stronger advocate.”

Amosun said that she is looking forward to collaborating with colleagues from across Georgia Tech and learn from their perspectives.

“Collaborating outside of my department will help me better understand shared challenges, exchange ideas, and bring new approaches and culture-building back to the Woodruff School,” she said.

Payne also expressed excitement about the opportunity to grow as a leader and connect with others. She said she applied to the program to strengthen her leadership abilities both professionally and personally.

“I want to acquire more leadership skills to contribute to my community both within the university and in my everyday life,” she said. “I am keen on psychology, and why humans make the decisions we make, so the opportunity to develop as a leader in this way was enticing.”

Payne said she hopes to apply lessons from the program to strengthen her communication and collaboration skills.

“From students to full professors to national lab affiliates, each journey requires something different, and I want to better my skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with each of them, both as individuals and as a community,” she said.

Through the Culture Champion Academy, both Amosun and Payne intend to develop skills they can bring back to the Woodruff School to strengthen a culture where all faculty, staff, and students feel supported and valued.

The Culture Champion Academy is open to all people leaders, managers, administrators, researchers, and academic professionals at Georgia Tech. Staff interested in joining the next cohort this fall can fill out an interest form to receive updates about the upcoming nomination period.