Class of 2026
Majors in Linguistics and Political Science; Minor in Spanish
My name is Lia Payne and I’m from Nashville, Tennessee, where I grew up with my parents and two siblings. Here in Durham, I currently work in the marketing department at Duke Athletics, helping to produce games & events. Sports have always been a major part of my life, and it’s been amazing to see the teamwork and effort that goes into supporting elite athletes. In addition to this, I’m involved with the Club Lacrosse team and am honored to be a QuestBridge Scholar. Looking ahead, I hope to continue my education while exploring new countries through travel.
Favorite Class: My favorite class at Duke was "The Law & Language," taught by Professor Newcity, because it combined my interests in linguistics and legal studies. Its detail-oriented focus highlighted the importance of words.