Kenya Payne
Director, Communications & Recruitment
As Director of Marketing & Communication, Kenya will determine the regional vision and strategy for external
communications and will set and execute on ambitious strategies necessary to increase the diversity of our regional
corps. Kenya also develops the vision and strategies for our regional communications work, increasing brand
awareness aligned with achieving our 2030 goals, and managing execution.
Kenya is a two-time graduate of THE Tennessee State University where she earned a B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications and a Master of Education in Sports Administration. Kenya worked as a public relations assistant with duGard Ellis Public Relations and was the Marketing/Promotions and Game Operations Coordinator for Tennessee State University’s athletics department.
In 2016, Kenya joined the Teach For America Nashville staff, initially as the Coordinator, External Affairs, then she served as the Manager, External Affairs, and in 2020 she became the region’s first Director, Communications & Stewardship. Kenya is a member of a variety of organizations including Nashville’s Young Leaders Council Alumni, Center for Nonprofit Management’s Young Nonprofit Professionals, Nashville Women of Color in Communications network, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
