Spotlights & Stories

Erik Payton ’21 is already aiming high, toward deep space, in fact. After earning his mechanical engineering degree from Cornell, he was named a Clark Doctoral Fellow at the University of Maryland, where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. His research focuses on spacecraft navigation, planetary imaging, and asteroid-preparedness, building on his hands-on work at Cornell’s Fuertes Observatory and with former NASA chief technologist Mason Peck.

Erik says his passion for engineering began at Albany Academy, where small classes, dedicated teachers, and the FIRST robotics team gave him the confidence to explore big ideas. He also sang in chamber singers, performed in musicals, and thrived in the Cadet Corps. Now working in the Strategic Space Sensing Lab and looking toward a future in NASA or a space-tech startup, Erik remains grounded in the lessons he learned at Academy, especially the importance of asking the right questions.

Elon Johnson '94 works in a place so large she might drive 15 minutes or more to get to a meeting. She passes Italian city streets, nightclubs, polished homes, a rundown trailer park, a yacht, and the White House.

“It’s almost to scale,” she said, of the Oval Office. “You’re not allowed to make it exact.”

It was this setting, the 330-acre Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, that hooked Johnson seven years ago when she interviewed for an executive position. An Emmy-nominated producer who had built critically-acclaimed shows for BET, Anderson Cooper, NBC and MTV, she was not eager to leave New York City. 

Her journey from 10th-grade AAG culture club founder to Aspen Global Leadership Network fellow wasn't what she expected, but it's exactly what she was meant to do. Discover how a few transformative teachers and a commitment to representation shaped a career bringing diverse voices to screens everywhere.

Albany Academy is thrilled to celebrate Emily Allen '20, who’s hitting the road as Head of Hair and Makeup on the national tour of The Book of Mormon. From teaching crews how to pin wigs in just 45 minutes to juggling grueling 2 a.m. load-outs and 8 a.m. load-ins, Emily’s behind-the-scenes expertise keeps every performance flawless.

A lifelong theatre lover and Marymount Manhattan College graduate, Emily credits her Academy mentors for fueling her bold dreams. Touring the country with a major production is no small feat—and this story reveals how dedication, creativity, and a little Academy grit helped her land center stage behind the scenes.