Professional Summary
 

Courtney Sykes is a proud Florida native who serves as the Senior Development Assistant in the Woodruff School. She has extensive experience in collaborating with stakeholders, enhancing alumni engagement, and pioneering successful initiatives. Courtney spearheaded the launch of the ME Shaping the World Speaker Series, the Woodruff School’s corporate affiliates program and managed several Woodruff School/ASME Career Fairs, significantly increasing student participation and company engagement. Sykes launched the inaugural Woodruff Young Alumni Council (YAC) and serves as its advisor, promoting a culture of giving and engagement among recent graduates.

Sykes' responsibilities include stewardship activities such as impact reports, fellowship and scholarship coordination, and gift acknowledgments. She supports the ME, NRE, and Young Alumni Boards administratively and logistically, and plays a key role in development and alumni events. Additionally, she manages communications, serves as a liaison with ME Communications, and provides administrative support to the Associate Director and Sr. Director of Development.

Before her current role, Sykes was a Faculty Support Coordinator in the Engineered Biosystems Building, where she supported 15 faculty members and over 75 lab/research group members. She began her career at Georgia Tech as a Faculty Support Coordinator in ME, supporting the Heat Lab and assisting with event management, community outreach and budget administration.

At Florida International University, she managed international research initiatives and federal-funded research training grants that supported underrepresented and minority students, gaining a comprehensive understanding of program management, budget preparation, performance measurement, and process improvement.

Professionally and personally, Sykes is passionate about community service, networking, and relationship building. She serves on the executive board for the Greater Atlanta Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., and is an active member of the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a Certificate in Leadership Studies from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University.