Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Ryan, Chair
Board Member since 2022
Michigan
Ryan's career spans research and advocacy, primarily in the environmental movement. He holds a Ph.D. and MS degrees from the University of Washington, where his research explored what cities and counties in the US are doing to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions, and how those efforts influence local finance. He's built campaigns for the National Wildlife Federation, Clean Water Action, and the Clean Air Task Force. And he founded a non-profit to advocate for the half-million survivors of the 1984 chemical disaster in Bhopal, India, which he led for five years. He currently works with the sustainability and resilience team at Cadmus.
When Ryan isn’t trying to save the world – how’s he doing so far? – he enjoys the company of his houseplants, to which he coos unselfconsciously. He also loves long bike rides, building community, and justice, not necessarily in that order.
James Vice Chair
Board Member since 2024
Washington DC
James looks forward to working on the board of the SSA, where he aims to collaborate with the organization in furthering its mission of advocating for secularism and providing vital support to atheist, humanist, and other non-theist students across college and high school campuses.
James is a dedicated professional with a strong background in nonprofit management, development, and operations. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management at Northeastern University, James leverages his academic knowledge and practical experience to drive impactful change within organizations.
James currently works as the Senior Associate of Development and Board Relations at the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) in Washington, D.C., James plays a key role in managing DQC's grant portfolio, ensuring timely submission of grants and reports, and fostering strong relationships with foundations.
Prior to joining DQC, James has gained valuable experience through his work and internships at various nonprofit organizations. At MENTOR National, he served as an AmeriCorps Development and Operations VISTA, where he played a pivotal role in fundraising efforts and facilitated educational workshops on fundraising topics.
James holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with double majors in Political Science and Religion from Dickinson College. When not working, James enjoys hiking, watching sports, and spending time with his friends and family.
Shanti, Treasurer
Board Member since 2021
California
Shanti is a financial executive focused on developing and executing strategies that have both immediate and lasting impacts on businesses and their profitability. Whether working in a large, multi-national company or a smaller, local company, she leverages her fifteen plus years of retail industry experience, business acumen, and operational expertise to achieve organizational objectives and build high-performing teams. Collaborative and transparent in style, she strives to continually learn and grow by working through the challenges in life and connects people together by appreciating multiple perspectives, openness, and listening.
Shanti is currently the CFO of Maxfield Enterprises, Inc. and lives in Los Angeles. She has an MBA from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of Scripps College where she majored in Honors English Literature and minored in Biology. In her free time, she loves to hike, knit, and cook for friends and family.
Nadine, Secretary
Board Member since 2023
Utah
Nadine is a dynamic individual with a diverse background and a passion for both professional excellence and community involvement. Born and raised in the vibrant state of California, Nadine made the bold move to Utah in 2020 to be closer to her cherished grandchildren.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership, with a minor in History, from Arizona State University, Nadine possesses a strong educational foundation in leadership and a deep appreciation for the lessons of history.
Nadine's professional journey is nothing short of inspiring. She began her career as an Office Supervisor, but through her unwavering dedication and visionary leadership, she ascended to the pinnacle of corporate success. As the former President of EXP Pharmaceutical Services Corp., she played a pivotal role in the company's growth and ultimate successful sale. Her strategic acumen and leadership abilities were instrumental in shaping the company's trajectory.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nadine is an active and engaged community member. She served as the president, umpire, and safety coordinator for Little League, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing the growth and development of young athletes.
Nadine's passion extends to issues of great societal importance. She has dedicated her time and energy to working part-time for a national youth justice organization, advocating for the rights and well-being of young individuals entangled in the justice system.
A staunch advocate for the separation of church and state, particularly in educational environments, Nadine is driven by the belief that everyone should have access to a secular and unbiased education system. Her advocacy work in this area reflects her unwavering commitment to fundamental principles of democracy.
In her leisure time, Nadine indulges in her diverse set of hobbies. She finds solace in the precision of target archery, embraces the freedom of biking through picturesque landscapes, and explores the past through the pages of historical fiction.
Harry
Board Member since 2013
North Carolina
Harry is the former President of Triangle Freethought Society in Raleigh, North Carolina, and runs a successful software consulting process. Harry attended North Carolina State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Most recently Harry is working on a game development startup focused on outdoor electronic gaming.
Through his work in various roles with TFS, Harry has been able to help build a diverse and vibrant community of atheists, agnostic and secular humanists. During his time working with the local community, Harry was able to bring attention to important causes while demonstrating that a life without religion can be quite meaningful and fun. In 2015, CNN featured Harry and his family in a front-page piece entitled "the friendly atheists next door."
Chinelle
Board Member since 2022
Washington DC
Asa
Board Member since 2025
California
Alexandrea (Asa) is the Head of E-commerce, Marketing, and Operations at a privately owned luxury retail company, where she brings a strategic lens to the intersection of fashion, technology, and operations. Asa thrives on connecting the dots to make things work better—from digital ecosystems to cross-functional teams.
Asa is excited to bring her operational and marketing expertise to the Secular Student Alliance board. She’s passionate about creating inclusive, empowering spaces for young people exploring their identities, values, and worldviews outside of religious frameworks. Asa believes that students deserve strong, supportive communities where they can think critically, advocate for secular values, and feel seen. She’s also deeply inspired by the opportunity to work alongside like-minded individuals who dedicate their time and energy to honoring and protecting these important spaces.
When she's not streamlining systems or diving into data, Asa enjoys hanging out with her family—especially her nieces and nephews.
Joey
Board Member since 2024
Washington DC
Joey is a program director for a national education and disability advocacy organization where he leads the organization’s programs in addition to its efforts to develop and train young disabled advocates. He has a deep passion for cultivating the next generation of leaders to transform our school systems into dynamic, equitable, just, and inclusive places for learning.
Joey’s background as an educator and facilitator has significantly shaped his career. He began his professional journey as an actor, arts educator, and program manager in upstate New York, then moved to Seattle for a Masters degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. He has been in DC since 2014 working on national education issues, always pushing to center racial justice and the needs of our most overlooked students and communities.
Joey’s lifelong love of learning and dedication to education have been powerful driving forces for him personally and professionally, and he is excited to join the SSA Board to ensure students across the country have the resources, tools, and organizing power to make sure our democratic institutions are inclusive, unbiased, and just.
Jessie
Board Member since 2025
Connecticut
Jessie is an incoming college freshman from West Haven, CT. Torn between separate worlds between their identities as a low-income, first-generation Chinese-American, Jessie grew up as a queer youth in a traditional, gender-conservative home. Drawing from their lived experiences, they have testified before the State Board of Education, proposed and successfully passed their own bills in the Connecticut General Assembly, and worked directly with the Department of Education to promote access to education, representation for marginalized communities, and affordable healthcare.
They have interned with Representative DeLauro, Attorney General William Tong, State Senator Anwar, State Representative Khan. Jessie currently serves on the Connecticut Association of Schools' Advisory Board on Education and Equity, as well as chairs the Youth Advisory Council of the Connecticut legislature. When she's not spending time on legislation, Jessie works on volunteering in her local community, including libraries, soup kitchens, and empowering students by hosting events through their non-profit, CT Speech & Action. They have been named as one of 20 Alexander Hamilton Scholars, honored as a Princeton Prize in Race Relations recipient, a Disney Dreamer, and have recently received the prestigious Coca-Cola Scholarship. Jessie now joins the board as the national student representative for the Secular Student Alliance.
David
Board Member since 2025
California
David is a strategic thinker with a strong track record in building partnerships shaped by experience at both a Fortune 1 company and a leading global social platform. With a deep understanding of how to drive growth and build meaningful relationships, he specializes in connecting mission-driven organizations with supporters and opportunities.
His advocacy for inclusion and belonging has taken shape within corporate environments, where he has led impactful programs to foster diverse, equitable, and supportive workplace cultures. He is excited to bring this corporate acumen to the nonprofit sector in support of the Secular Student Alliance.
A steadfast believer in the separation of church and state, his commitment to secularism is rooted in a belief that everyone deserves the freedom to think, question, and believe without coercion.
Owen
Board Member since 2025
Pennsylvania
Owen is a prominent advocate for secular values, education, and critical thinking. Best known for his YouTube channels under the Telltale brand, Owen produces widely viewed content that explores the intersection of religion, politics, and social justice. Through his work, he has built a large and engaged audience by dissecting extremism, promoting evidence-based reasoning, and supporting the rights of marginalized communities. Owen is also the author of Was Hitler an Atheist?, a book that examines common misconceptions about secularism in history. A former Jehovah’s Witness, he brings a personal and empathetic perspective to the challenges faced by young people navigating religion in their lives. His mission aligns closely with the Secular Student Alliance’s goals of empowering secular students and fostering inclusive communities.
Emily
Board Member since 2025
Utah
Emily is from Wilmore, Kentucky and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in January 2025. She started getting involved with the secular community when she began volunteering with Recovering from Religion in June 2019. Starting with answering calls and picking up chats from the helpline, she is now the co-director of their ambassador program, a team of volunteers representing the organization at in-person community events or on a podcast. She also used to co-host the in-person support group in Lexington, Kentucky, and now the one in Salt Lake City, Utah.
When Emily lived in Kentucky, she co-hosted weekly dinners with central Kentucky’s American Atheists affiliate, Lexington Atheists. Since moving to Utah, she co-hosts and attends events with a local secular group, Lost and Found Club, and attends the Salt Lake chapter of Oasis every Sunday morning.
Emily found out about the Secular Student Alliance while she was in college and attended national events like secular spring break and the conference. She graduated in April 2023 from Asbury University with a bachelor's degree in accounting, and currently works in public accounting. Her next professional goal is to become a CPA. She’s excited to volunteer with the Secular Student Alliance in a professional manner as a board member!
Willie
Board Member since 2025
Nevada
Willie is an educator, speaker, entrepreneur, author, and advocate. Together with his wife, he co-owned a successful e-commerce business, which they sold in 2024. Before his entrepreneurial endeavors, Willie spent 17 years in corporate America—twelve of those years as a Financial Advisor, including six years in management roles.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Alabama A&M University, an Executive MBA from Troy University, and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Georgia State University.
In 2015, Willie made the personal decision to step away from organized religion and his Christian faith. His current research explores the rapid rise of the religiously unaffiliated—commonly referred to as “NONES”—and the broader impact of secularism on
society, with a particular focus on the African American community.
Willie has presented his research at several academic conferences, including the National American Academy of Religion (AAR) Annual Meeting (2023), the Southeast Regional AAR Conference (2024), the Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT) in 2023, and the Southeast
Philosophy of Education Society (SEPES) Conference in 2025.
An accomplished author, Willie has published four books, including From Saved to Sane: My Journey Away from Christianity and Why It Has Been Detrimental to the African American Community. In addition to his writing, Willie served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Georgia State University in 2023 and 2024.
He has been featured on the Freedom From Religion Foundation podcast and has delivered talks and presentations for numerous organizations, including the Sunday Assembly of Las Vegas, the Atheist Round Table of Las Vegas, the American Humanist Association, and a local college in Nairobi, Kenya.
Get Involved!
Interested in becoming a Board Member or part of the National Leadership Council?
Email us at ssa@secularstudents.org for information regarding upcoming board vacancies.