New Faces of Ivan Allen College

Please welcome our newest staff members to the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts!

Jayla McCall joined the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs as an academic support coordinator in November.

Jayla was born and raised in western Massachusetts, surrounded by forests and farmland, before relocating to Atlanta in February 2025. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where her academic journey first began in jazz vocal performance, before expanding into literature and language.

Passionate about English writing, music, and linguistics, Jayla is deeply committed to education and hopes to teach one day. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys playing music, cooking, and spending time in nature with her German Shepherd, who is trained in scent tracking. Alongside her love of caring for an ever-growing collection of houseplants, she enjoys travel, thrifting, and good coffee.

Ayanna (uh-ya-nuh) Alleyne began her role as assistant to the chair in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs in September. She is a proud Brooklyn native (yes, she is a giants fan, Knicks fan, Brooklyn Nets fan, and Yankees fan) who has called Georgia home since 2006. She earned her associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies there. 

Ayanna is Afro-Caribbean, with vibrant cultural roots in Antigua on her mother’s side and Guyana on her father’s. As a true Libra, she values balance, beauty, and harmony reflected in her love for astrology, shopping, photography, and peaceful moments. A devoted mom to her daughter Logan, Ayanna is also a passionate traveler (she plans to make it to Bora Bora soon) and a driven entrepreneur, running both a photography and a tax business while always seeking her next big venture.

Eliot Jobe is the program and operations manager for the GTDC Pathways to Policy program in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, a role he started in August. He works out of Washington on the GTDC Abroad-at-Home program, supporting event programming, strengthening university relations, and assisting with planning and operations. 

His past roles include a tenure at the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, where he facilitated events, conferences, trainings, and programs such as the Public Policy and Nuclear Threats Boot Camp and the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Technology and International Security. He also worked as a research associate in Professor Andrew Shaver’s Political Violence Lab, conducting rigorous academic research on political violence, social unrest, and human rights abuses in countries of the Global South. 

Eliot is currently pursuing a Master’s in Sustainable Energy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, exploring the intersection of nuclear security and nuclear energy.

Jacob Bratcher joined the Career Center as a career education program manager for the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts in July. He is a first-generation college graduate (thrice) and Pell graduate with nearly a decade of experience in higher education spanning public flagships to small private liberal arts institutions, community colleges to multiple R1 universities including admissions and orientation, teaching and adjunct faculty roles, academic advising, and particularly in career services. He is a tenth-generation native Tennessean and proud Georgia transplant since 2018.

Jacob comes to Tech from the University of Georgia’s Career Center in Athens, where for the past two years he served as Career Consultant for the College of Business, including both undergrad and graduate programs. Previously, he served as Lead Academic Advisor for three years at the University of South Carolina with the business-track Organizational Leadership and interdisciplinary Liberal Studies programs, as well as adjunct professor in American History. He holds a Masters in History from UGA and has multiple peer-reviewed solo articles either already published or currently under peer review. In this new position at Tech, Jacob is especially excited to integrate his entire body of experience from both career services and the liberal arts to serve the next generation of scholars and researchers from Ivan Allen College.

He is also a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE), the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and Atlanta Pride. He is excited to positively contribute to the Tech student body, the entire university community, and the city both professionally and personally. 

posted Nov. 18, 2025

Patrice Sheffield Jackson is the new assistant director of financial operations at the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. With over a decade of experience in financial operations and higher education budgeting, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. Patrice holds an MBA and has held key financial positions at institutions such as Yale University, the University of Maryland, and institutions within the University System of Georgia. Her career has been marked by managing complex, multi-million-dollar budgets, ensuring compliance, enhancing operational efficiency, and developing comprehensive financial training programs for diverse teams.

Passionate about fostering transparent processes and supporting faculty and staff in effective budget management, Patrice is dedicated to driving initiatives that promote financial stability and growth. Known for her collaborative approach and commitment to institutional goals, she leverages clear, data-driven strategies to achieve success.

The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts is pleased to introduce Cara McClain as our new development assistant senior. Cara comes to us from the United Way of Greater Atlanta, where she served as associate director of corporate relations. Prior to that, she spent almost three years in Salamanca, Spain, as campus minister and finance director at CMF International, a religious nonprofit serving university students.

Cara is a Georgia Tech alum, with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Language and Cultural Studies, with a concentration in Spanish and a minor in global development. While studying at Georgia Tech, she worked on sustainable development initiatives through the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain and was a Rule of Law Project intern with The Carter Center. Cara brings demonstrated skills in relationship building, event planning, financial management, and community impact, supported by a strong academic foundation in language, culture, and global development.

In her free time, she enjoys playing recreational sand volleyball and softball, attempting The New York Times daily crossword, trying a new hobby (currently wheel pottery), and walking the Beltline to explore parks and restaurants with her husband (also a Georgia Tech alum!) and friends.

Jaeszha Richardson is an administrative professional III in the Center for Advanced Communications Policy at Georgia Tech. She joined Georgia Tech in 2023 as a temporary employee and quickly demonstrated her strengths in organization, efficiency, and financial operations, which led to her promotion as an administrative professional I with focus in finance in the College of Computing. In her current position, Jaeszha supports both the administrative and financial functions of the center, helping ensure the smooth and effective management of daily operations. 

A proud Spelman College alumna, Jaeszha brings a strong academic foundation, enriching her knowledge in administrative processes and professional communication. 

Born and raised in Florida, Jaeszha brings a warm and approachable energy to the workplace. Outside of the office, Jaeszha enjoys baking and cooking in her free time, often sharing her creations with family, friends, and coworkers.

Posted May 21, 2025

Jasmine Brown began her role as an academic program manager in the School of Public Policy in February 2025. 

She was born and raised in Marietta. She is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in family services, and a Master's in Higher Education Administration. 

Jasmine's experiences range from academic advising to overseeing mentoring programs and facilitating first-year programs. Jasmine has presented at regional conferences on topics related to student retention and student success. Her passion for student success was recognized by being a recipient of the University Award of Excellence in the category of Student Success while working at Georgia Southern University. 

In her free time, Jasmine enjoys cooking, watching movies, and watching sports. She is an avid fan of Star Wars and enjoys classic Disney, Marvel, and DC movies. 

Stephan Beaulieu began his role as a financial manager in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs in January 2025. 

Stephan has over 15 years working in finance, including six years working in higher education. In his past role, he provided financial support and analysis to the Office of the President at Georgia Tech. He is also serving as an ambassador for this year's 2025 Charitable Campaign and is excited to leverage his network to market and bring more awareness about this campaign across the Institute. 

Stephan has an undergraduate degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. He is originally from Haiti and speaks four languages fluently. 

When not working on spreadsheets, you can find Stephan at the local soccer pitch as the team manager for his nephew's soccer team.

Laura Rouse-Hoyle began her position as an academic program manager in the School of Public Policy in January 2025. 

Born in New Jersey and raised in North Carolina, Laura has spent her entire life on the East Coast and has dedicated her career to the field of post-secondary and higher education. Her professional experiences span a variety of areas, including residence life, campus event planning, academic advising, and career success, all of which have given her a comprehensive understanding of the college student experience. 

As someone who is systems-minded and passionate about creating meaningful student experiences, Laura is excited to step into the role of academic program manager II with the School of Public Policy, where she looks forward to leveraging her unique skill set to support the School’s mission.

Laura holds a bachelor's degree in biological anthropology and dance from The George Washington University, as well as a master's degree in higher education administration with a focus in student affairs.

Ryan VanSickle began his position as an academic and research IT support professional with the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts dean's office in January 2025.

Ryan graduated University of North Georgia in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity. After graduation, he worked at the college’s IT department as an IT service technician, before joining Georgia Tech in February 2020. At Georgia Tech, he has spent the last few years working in Data Center Operations. 

In his free time he plays video games and he is learning midi using Ableton Live. He also enjoys mountain biking.

posted Feb. 11, 2025

Portia Carter began her role as an administrative professional with the School of History and Sociology in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts in October 2024.

Portia is a Georgia native with a strong educational background and professional experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Savannah State University and a master’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Northwest Missouri State University. With 11 years of experience in education, Portia has worked across various roles, from early childhood to primary education, and has also provided seven years of executive assistant support at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC). 

Outside of her career, Portia enjoys engaging in recreational activities such as traveling, health and wellness, mindfulness practices, and embracing the joys of motherhood.

Caroline McWhorter began her role with the School of History and Sociology in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts in October 2024.

Caroline has worked within the University System of Georgia for almost 15 years. Most recently, she worked at the University of West Georgia. Caroline has a B.A. in business administration with a focus in accounting from Furman University and an M.B.A. in business administration from the University of West Georgia. One of the things she loves most about working in higher education is knowing that she is making a positive impact on students and contributing to their success as they advance in their lives and careers. 

She currently lives in Carrollton, GA with her husband and two children (twins!).

Lauren Kennedy was appointed director of development for the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts in September 2024. The director of development serves as a front-line development officer to lead fundraising initiatives and development operations for the College including our schools, research centers, and ROTC units.

Lauren has served in multiple roles with Georgia Tech’s Office of Development. She has gained experience in campaign strategy, major and planned gift solicitation, donor communications and stewardship, gift administration, board and volunteer cultivation, and marketing design and production. Since 2020, Lauren has served as the director of development for the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, where she collaborated across development teams to help the Schools raise over $30 million collectively. She also previously led annual fundraising efforts for Mount Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek, GA.

Lauren has a bachelor of science degree in international affairs from Georgia Tech. Beyond work, she spends time with her husband and two sons and her two dogs. She also enjoys karate and strength training.

Laura Gregory joined the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts as an associate director of development in August 2024. The associate director of development serves as a front-line development officer to assist with the planning and implementation of fundraising activities.

Laura brings a diverse background in business development and education to Georgia Tech. Most recently, she worked as an PreK-12 English specialist for Up International Colegio Reinado in Madrid, Spain. Before relocating to Spain, Laura served as a director of sales and business development from JW & Company Incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia for three years. In that role, she grew B2B accounts from 25 to 560, as well as increased the sales pipeline from $620k annually to $6.2 million annually. 

Laura has a bachelor of science degree in education from Young Harris College. In her free time, she spends time with her dog, Mr. Remington, as they explore their home in Midtown Atlanta.

Lauren Hunter joined the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts as a grant administrator lead in August 2024. Lauren most recently served as the Financial Manager for the Institute for Matter and Systems, an interdisciplinary research center at Georgia Tech. Lauren provided financial management for several centers including the Packaging Research Center, the Georgia Electronic Design Center, the Electronic Photonic Integrated Circuits for Aerospace, and the Wearable Intelligent Systems and Healthcare Center. She was primarily responsible for pre-award activities, post-award activities, and graduate student hiring. 

Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Lauren served in various roles with administrative, financial, and human resources responsibilities within the public and state higher education sectors in South Carolina, including the University of South Carolina and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Lauren is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. She earned a bachelor of arts in business administration and a master of business administration from Charleston Southern University. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends in her spare time.

posted October 28, 2024