Secular Student Alliance National Conference

SSAcon2025 masthead dark

Join us for the 2025 summer leadership conference!
University of Cincinnati | July 17-19, 2025

The Secular Student Alliance national conference is the largest gathering of secular students in the country. For students and the entire secular community, this unique conference experience blends amazing speakers, grassroots training, leadership enrichment, and a secular perspective.

Register Now!
Travel Planning
Conduct Policy
Conference FAQ
Conference Schedule
Submit a Workshop
Sponsor A Student
Sponsor The Conference
Register Now!

2025 Conference Speakers and Presenters

Conference speakers and presenters will be updated regularly.

Sasha Sagan is the author of the internationally critically acclaimed book For Small Creatures Such As We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World. Her essays and interviews on death, history, and ritual through a secular lens have appeared in The Cut, O, the Oprah Magazine, Parents, and beyond. On her podcast, Strange Customs, Sasha explores the idiosyncrasies and history of human culture with celebrities and scholars alike. She regularly speaks in the U.S. and abroad about the ways science can inform our traditions and expand our sense of wonder.
Sasha Sagan is the author of the internationally critically acclaimed book For Small Creatures Such As We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World. Her essays and interviews on death, history, and ritual through a secular lens have appeared in The Cut, O, the Oprah Magazine, Parents, and beyond. On her podcast, Strange Customs, Sasha explores the idiosyncrasies and history of human culture with celebrities and scholars alike. She regularly speaks in the U.S. and abroad about the ways science can inform our traditions and expand our sense of wonder.

Sasha Sagan

Fish Stark is an organizer, educator, social entrepreneur, and lifelong humanist. Fish has spent his career turning big ideas into bold action in service of belonging, flourishing, and social justice for all people. Prior to joining the AHA as Executive Director, Fish was the Head of Program + Curriculum at Legends, an educational technology startup, where he created products that helped children build positive mental health.
Fish Stark is an organizer, educator, social entrepreneur, and lifelong humanist. Fish has spent his career turning big ideas into bold action in service of belonging, flourishing, and social justice for all people. Prior to joining the AHA as Executive Director, Fish was the Head of Program + Curriculum at Legends, an educational technology startup, where he created products that helped children build positive mental health.

Fish Stark

Forrest is a biologist and science communicator known for his infectious enthusiasm and boundless love for life. Renowned for his engaging presence on YouTube and TikTok, his dynamic presentations at conferences and conventions, and hosting shows like SkepTalk and The Atheist Experience, Forrest brings together captivating science lessons, thought-provoking discussions on skepticism, and heartfelt advocacy for social progress.
Forrest is a biologist and science communicator known for his infectious enthusiasm and boundless love for life. Renowned for his engaging presence on YouTube and TikTok, his dynamic presentations at conferences and conventions, and hosting shows like SkepTalk and The Atheist Experience, Forrest brings together captivating science lessons, thought-provoking discussions on skepticism, and heartfelt advocacy for social progress.

Forrest Valkai

Mickey Dollens is the Regional Government Affairs Manager at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, where he fights to uphold church-state separation and protect religious freedom for all. Dollens has a diverse background as a state representative, author, teacher, NCAA Division I football player, and Team USA bobsledder, he brings a unique and dynamic perspective to advocacy.
Mickey Dollens is the Regional Government Affairs Manager at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, where he fights to uphold church-state separation and protect religious freedom for all. Dollens has a diverse background as a state representative, author, teacher, NCAA Division I football player, and Team USA bobsledder, he brings a unique and dynamic perspective to advocacy.

Mickey Dollens

Evan is an award-winning atheist community organizer with over 15 years experience tinkering with secular communities. He is currently the Executive Director of Atheists United in Los Angeles, CA, the Southern California State Director for American Atheists, and a Board Member for the American Humanist Association.
Evan is an award-winning atheist community organizer with over 15 years experience tinkering with secular communities. He is currently the Executive Director of Atheists United in Los Angeles, CA, the Southern California State Director for American Atheists, and a Board Member for the American Humanist Association.

Evan Clark

Former Democratic Nominee for Florida House District 38. Non-Profit Professional, SSA Alumni, and Advocate for Workers.
Former Democratic Nominee for Florida House District 38. Non-Profit Professional, SSA Alumni, and Advocate for Workers.

Sarah Henry

SSA Alumni Jasmine Banks (she/her) has more than 10 years of progressive advocacy, movement building, and organizing experience. She spent the last five years dedicated to leading an intervention campaign, UnKoch My Campus, addressing the impact of far-right billionaires leveraging their philanthropic donations in higher education to erode democracy. During the campaigns she organized multiple campuses, coalitions, and provided movement support to hundreds of students, educators, and community activists. Jasmine has traveled to a number of higher ed institutions to speak with students and faculty about donor transparency and academic freedom. She was most recently honored to give a keynote for the Higher Education division of the American Federation of Teachers. Jasmine is also a former licensed therapist, Chief Marketing Officer, and small business owner.
SSA Alumni Jasmine Banks (she/her) has more than 10 years of progressive advocacy, movement building, and organizing experience. She spent the last five years dedicated to leading an intervention campaign, UnKoch My Campus, addressing the impact of far-right billionaires leveraging their philanthropic donations in higher education to erode democracy. During the campaigns she organized multiple campuses, coalitions, and provided movement support to hundreds of students, educators, and community activists. Jasmine has traveled to a number of higher ed institutions to speak with students and faculty about donor transparency and academic freedom. She was most recently honored to give a keynote for the Higher Education division of the American Federation of Teachers. Jasmine is also a former licensed therapist, Chief Marketing Officer, and small business owner.

Jasmine Banks

Sean has spent 5 years working with local City Council in his area and was the statewide field director for a voter registration project. Sean spent most of his undergraduate years organizing protests & rallies and volunteering for campaigns as the president of his university SSA.
Sean has spent 5 years working with local City Council in his area and was the statewide field director for a voter registration project. Sean spent most of his undergraduate years organizing protests & rallies and volunteering for campaigns as the president of his university SSA.

Sean Rivera

square web emily
Jake Via, a former National Trainer for Playworks, has spent years helping educators and leaders harness the science of play to create inclusive, engaging environments for kids and adults alike. Now, as the Organizing Director for the American Humanist Association, he applies those same principles to mobilize communities, foster connection, and advocate for humanist values.
Jake Via, a former National Trainer for Playworks, has spent years helping educators and leaders harness the science of play to create inclusive, engaging environments for kids and adults alike. Now, as the Organizing Director for the American Humanist Association, he applies those same principles to mobilize communities, foster connection, and advocate for humanist values.
Willie is an educator, speaker, entrepreneur, author, and advocate. I have a B.S. degree in Finance, an MBA, and an MA in Religious Studies. After spending 40 years as a Christian, Willie walked away from organized religion in 2015. Over the last ten years, he has written and published a book and several articles about NONES, leaving Christianity, and the effects of secularism on society. Willie taught religious studies classes at Georgia State University for two years.
Willie is an educator, speaker, entrepreneur, author, and advocate. I have a B.S. degree in Finance, an MBA, and an MA in Religious Studies. After spending 40 years as a Christian, Willie walked away from organized religion in 2015. Over the last ten years, he has written and published a book and several articles about NONES, leaving Christianity, and the effects of secularism on society. Willie taught religious studies classes at Georgia State University for two years.
Joe provides chaplaincy services to a hospital, rehabilitation center, and Health Services provider. In addition, he serves as a combat medic in the U.S. Army National Guard where he was activated to protests in Milwaukee and Kenosha. Joe is interested in serving as the first Humanist Chaplain in the U.S. Military.
Joe provides chaplaincy services to a hospital, rehabilitation center, and Health Services provider. In addition, he serves as a combat medic in the U.S. Army National Guard where he was activated to protests in Milwaukee and Kenosha. Joe is interested in serving as the first Humanist Chaplain in the U.S. Military.

Emily Shine

Jake Via

Willie Cartwright

Joseph Farkas

Alicia Johnson is the National Organizer and Student Network Manager at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Alicia got her start as a student organizer advocating for sexual health and rights and now has over a decade of experience advancing health equity and social justice at organizations including Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, Common Cause New York and American Heart Association of NYC.
Alicia Johnson is the National Organizer and Student Network Manager at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Alicia got her start as a student organizer advocating for sexual health and rights and now has over a decade of experience advancing health equity and social justice at organizations including Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, Common Cause New York and American Heart Association of NYC.
Andy Beyer (he/him) is a current Youth Organizing Fellow with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, where he works to promote church-state separation in his community. He is a recent alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley, graduating last spring with a major in political science and minors in Spanish and human rights. Originally from Southern California, he is based in the Bay Area and is interested in constitutional law, LGBTQ rights, and upholding church-state separation, particularly as it relates to issues of religious exemptions. In the fall, he will be attending Yale Law School for his juris doctor, and following his legal education, he plans to pursue a career in appellate litigation and public interest work.
Andy Beyer (he/him) is a current Youth Organizing Fellow with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, where he works to promote church-state separation in his community. He is a recent alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley, graduating last spring with a major in political science and minors in Spanish and human rights. Originally from Southern California, he is based in the Bay Area and is interested in constitutional law, LGBTQ rights, and upholding church-state separation, particularly as it relates to issues of religious exemptions. In the fall, he will be attending Yale Law School for his juris doctor, and following his legal education, he plans to pursue a career in appellate litigation and public interest work.
Liz Davis-Frost is a mediator, coach, and question-asker. With backgrounds in conflict studies, public administration, and communication, Liz’s approach to her work is inherently interdisciplinary and innovative. Currently, this takes shape in her position as a Mediation and Training Extension Associate in the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Liz Davis-Frost is a mediator, coach, and question-asker. With backgrounds in conflict studies, public administration, and communication, Liz’s approach to her work is inherently interdisciplinary and innovative. Currently, this takes shape in her position as a Mediation and Training Extension Associate in the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Colin Wulff is a dramaturg, actor, and playwright dedicated to the expression and espousal of the secular imagination. He advocates strengthening the philosophical and institutional alliance between explicit secular principles and the arts. He has appeared on the CBS shows "Madam Secretary" and "FBI: Most Wanted." As of May, 2025 he is a graduate from Columbia's School of the Arts with an MFA in Dramaturgy. He is especially interested in how theatrical practices can affirmatively represent secular creative life and inform nonreligious community structures.
Colin Wulff is a dramaturg, actor, and playwright dedicated to the expression and espousal of the secular imagination. He advocates strengthening the philosophical and institutional alliance between explicit secular principles and the arts. He has appeared on the CBS shows "Madam Secretary" and "FBI: Most Wanted." As of May, 2025 he is a graduate from Columbia's School of the Arts with an MFA in Dramaturgy. He is especially interested in how theatrical practices can affirmatively represent secular creative life and inform nonreligious community structures.

Alicia Johnson

Andy Beyer

Liz Davis-Frost

Colin Wulff

2025 Top Sponsors

Top conference sponsors will be updated regularly.

ssacon group photo lite