2010 Secular Student of Alliance Board of Directors Election Results
The 2010 Secular Student Alliance Board of Directors elections have closed. Ten candidates ran for seven two-year terms. SSA directors are elected by the membership and any member may stand for election to the Board of Directors. The SSA is governed by a Board of Directors which is elected by the SSA's members. Anyone is welcome to become a member.
The winners of the election were Joe Foley, Jennifer McCreight, Ashley Paramore, Matthew LaClair, Don Sutterfield, Michael Amini and Leslie A. Zukor. Jason Cooperrrider, Frank Bellamy and Tannie Low also ran.
Ashley Paramore, Matthew LaClair and Don Sutterfield were all reelected to second terms on the SSA Board of Directors. Joe Foley was reelected to his third term. Jennifer McCreight, Michael Amini and Leslie A. Zukor were all elected for the first time. Hemant Mehta, Mary Ellen Sikes, Andrew Cederdahl, John Figdor, and Shelley Mountjoy were not up for reelection in this cycle and will continue on the board.
Information about all SSA board members can be found on our Board of Directors page, but here is information about our three newest directors:
Michael Amini (board member since 2010) Seattle, WA
[michael AT secularstudents DOT org]
Michael has a history of activism in the movement, and enjoyed reaching out to help like-minded freethinkers as well as students who were just beginning to question the faith of their upbringing. He ran the Secular Student Union at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. The Secular Student Union was featured in its local university newspaper several times, was named as a plaintiff in the Michael Newdow's campaign to strike "under God" from the Presidential Oath of Office, became the first North American branch of the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organization, made the national news regarding Dan Barker's controversial visit to the Capitol, participated in the Center for Inquiry's World Congress, and organized the single largest freethinking event in the history of the Pacific Northwest - Richard Dawkins' speech at the Hec Edmunson pavilion.
Not too long ago, Michael was a Freshman at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Mormon and proud of it, he was embraced by the community, and began to define himself by his faith. He and his friends were set upon a path that would lead us to be lifelong members and staunch advocates for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many of his friends continue on that path today. He, however, did not.
In the process of walking away from his faith, he lost nearly everything. Mormonism was what defined him: his thoughts, his morality, his choices, his politics, and his circumstances were governed by his faith, and with that removed, he found himself standing alone. He very nearly joined a nearby church for the sole sake of being included in a community. Luckily, upon enrolling in the University of Washington, Michael discovered that there was a student group for atheists, agnostics, and other freethinkers: for people like him.
Much of his post-Mormon moral outlook and personal philosophies came directly from conversations in his humble little student group. In his last year as leader of the group, he was able to watch other students exploring and discovering in the same fashion.
Not too long ago, Michael was a Freshman at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Mormon and proud of it, he was embraced by the community, and began to define himself by his faith. He and his friends were set upon a path that would lead us to be lifelong members and staunch advocates for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many of his friends continue on that path today. He, however, did not.
In the process of walking away from his faith, he lost nearly everything. Mormonism was what defined him: his thoughts, his morality, his choices, his politics, and his circumstances were governed by his faith, and with that removed, he found himself standing alone. He very nearly joined a nearby church for the sole sake of being included in a community. Luckily, upon enrolling in the University of Washington, Michael discovered that there was a student group for atheists, agnostics, and other freethinkers: for people like him.
Much of his post-Mormon moral outlook and personal philosophies came directly from conversations in his humble little student group. In his last year as leader of the group, he was able to watch other students exploring and discovering in the same fashion.
The support of organizations such as the Secular Student Alliance was invaluable to Michael in running his campus group. He is excited to have the opportunity to give back to the community that has helped him along his path.
Jennifer McCreight (board member since 2010)
West Lafayette, IN
[jennifer AT secularstudents DOT org]
Jennifer McCreight co-founded the Society of Non-Theists at Purdue University in 2007 and was its President for three years. She is very proud of how successful the Society has become, despite the religious environment of Indiana - their mailing list has grown from zero to four hundred, about forty people regularly attend meetings, and they had favorable coverage by local newspapers and television stations multiple times. The Society of Non-Theists has also brought in many big name speakers, including Eddie Tabash, Hemant Mehta, PZ Myers, Greta Christina, and Darrel Ray. Most importantly, the Society has become a safe environment for irreligious students. Jennifer is also an artist, and is delighted to offer her artistic ability to be put to good use by the SSA!
Jennifer's other main atheist street cred is the creation and promotion of Boobquake. This event asked skeptical women around the world to the test the claim by Islamic Cleric Hojatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi that immodestly dressed women were responsible for earthquakes. It turns out: not so much, but further replication is needed.
Jennifer also blogs at Blag Hag. Her blog has gotten oddly popular and she looks forward to using it to give a voice to young atheists and godless women.
Jennifer graduated from Purdue with degrees in Genetics and Evolution. She is presently pursing a PhD in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington.
Leslie A. Zukor (board member since 2010)
Mercer Island, WA
[leslie AT secularstudents DOT org ]
Leslie A. Zukor is a committed activist for secular causes. In the fall of 2005, she started the Reed Secular Alliance, of which she is a former President. During her time of leadership, Zukor spearheaded the bringing of Daniel Dennett, Lori Lipman Brown, Austin Dacey, Greg Epstein, and several others to speak at Reed College. In addition, Leslie started the Freethought Books Project, which gives atheist, humanist, and freethinking books to prisoners and others in need across America. For her club's efforts, the RSA was presented with the Secular Student Alliance's Best Service Project Award of 2006. During the Freethought Books Project's five years of existence, Zukor has been instrumental in collecting roughly 3,000 books free of religious content, as well as in founding a secular Prison Pen Pal program. In addition, this past summer, Leslie served as a remote intern for the Secular Student Alliance, where she wrote action packets, articles for the eMpirical, and did databasing.
In addition to her group activism, Zukor's individual accomplishments are numerous. Her proudest achievement is winning the 2010 American Atheists Founder's Scholarship, a first place $2,000 prize. She also won a $250 Honorable Mention award in the Freedom From Religion Foundation's 2009 College Essay competition, and her essay was featured in the January/February 2010 edition of Freethought Today. Furthermore, Leslie's work with the Freethought Books Project has been profiled on Dogma Free America, the Humanist Network News, the Secular Student Alliance eMpirical, Atheist Nexus, and Freethought Today. Zukor, who is also a photographer, has had her work published on the front cover of The Humanist's November/December 2009 edition, as well as in CFI - Portland's newsletter and in the local Humanistic Jewish chapter's news. Leslie also appeared as part of the Agnostic Scholars' team in the Christian documentary, Lord Save Us From Your Followers.
As a leader, Leslie A. Zukor has what it takes to serve the Secular Student Alliance. She is creative, dedicated, persistent, and devoted to making a difference. Her familiarity with applying for grants for the Freethought Books Project will translate to writing superior funding proposals for the SSA. Furthermore, her real life experience as an atheist group leader is an asset to the Secular Student Alliance, as Zukor loves mentoring enthusiastic young freethinkers. In addition, Leslie's keen sense of empathy for those of different circumstances is vital for the SSA. Through corresponding with non-theistic prisoners, she understands the plight of atheist inmates, and how faith-based prison programs systematically discriminate against non-believers. Armed with this knowledge, Leslie hopes to inspire young activists to take proactive steps in the fight for atheists' civil liberties.
Submitted by august on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 00:00
