I’m Payton, a journalist, communicator, artist, and December 2025 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

I tell human-focused stories with an emphasis on emotion, arts, environment and local communities. With concrete skills in writing, graphic design and content creation, I also have experience with photography, UX design, analytics analysis and entrepreneurship.

I currently work as the marketing and development coordinator for NAMI Wake County, a mental health nonprofit where I do everything from managing socials and email communications to stewarding relationships with the donors who keep us afloat.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I completed editorial and communications internships with the National Alliance for Mental Ilness Wake County, Triangle Media Partners, UNC-Chapel Hill Student Affairs, The Graduate School at UNC-Chapel Hill and Student-Made UNC. I’ve done freelance work for The Woobles, written pieces published in The Burlington Times-News and The Durham VOICE, and built a successful small business selling crocheted items I make in my free time.

These experiences have given me a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to make it in the communications world. I am passionate, driven, hardworking and reliable.