Advisory Board

Board Member since 2025

Board Member since 2025

Board Member since 2023

  • Biography

    Ramiro is an entrepreneur and nonprofit founder with a background at the intersection of technology, education, and community building. He has co-founded a video streaming platform and a nonprofit focused on addressing gaps in access and representation for minorities in the tech industry. Ramiro holds bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, as well as a master’s degree in Computer Science from Cornell University.


    Ramiro is also the founder and former president of Triangle Skeptics, an organization dedicated to building community around skepticism, critical thinking, and science communication. His own journey from religion to secularism was shaped by science and inquiry, and it continues to inform his commitment to promoting evidence-based thinking, intellectual humility, and thoughtful engagement with complex societal challenges. He is excited to bring his experience in nonprofit leadership, technology, and grassroots organizing to the Secular Student Alliance board, in support of students seeking spaces where curiosity, reason, and open inquiry are encouraged.


    Outside of his professional and volunteer work, Ramiro enjoys endurance sports, including running and triathlons, which keep him grounded and remind him that progress, personal or societal, is built one deliberate step at a time.

Utah

Pennsylvania

Board Member since 2025

Asa Acosta

Nadine You, Secretary

Willie Cartwright

Washington DC

North Carolina

Nevada

Ramiro Rodriguez

Board Member since 2024

California

Owen Morgan

  • Biography

    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.

James Modisette, Vice Chair

  • Biography

    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.

  • Biography

    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.

  • Biography

    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.

Board Member since 2025

  • Biography

    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.

Advisory Board

Sasha Sagan (she/her) 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

Member since 2022

Massachusetts

  • Biography

    Sasha Sagan is a writer and speaker. Her essays and interviews on mortality, motherhood, and history, from a secular viewpoint have appeared in The Cut, O the Oprah Magazine, Parents, and beyond. She’s the author of the critically acclaimed book For Small Creatures Such As We, an exploration of celebrations and rituals through a scientific lens. Inverse named Sasha one of their Future 50, “a group of 50 people who will be forces of good in the 2020s”.

Barry_Lynn_cropped

Rev. Barry Lynn

Member since 2022

Washington, DC

  • Biography

    Barry W. Lynn is both an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and a member of the Supreme Court bar.  He worked on fighting censorship during years with the Washington Office of the ACLU and began advocacy there for a strong separation of church and state.  He continued this work for 25 years as Executive Director of Americans United For Separation of Church and State, retiring in 2019.  Since retirement, he has been working on a memoir called "Paid To Piss People Off" and is a regular commentator on the "David Feldman Show" on YouTube and John Fuegelsang's Sirius/XM radio broadcast "Tell Me Everything"

    Lynn is the author of three previous books and has appeared on virtually every major radio and television show in the United States.  He is a graduate of Dickinson College, the Boston University School of Theology and Georgetown University Law Center.

chakravartty_anjan-298x300

Anjan Chakravartty

Member since 2022

Florida

  • Biography

    Anjan Chakravartty is the Appignani Foundation Chair for the Study of Atheism, Humanism, and Secular Ethics at the University of Miami. He holds a BSc in Biophysics and an MA in Philosophy, as well as an MPhil and PhD in the history and philosophy of science. Anjan is a Guggenheim Fellow, authoring books and articles in the philosophy of science, metaphysics, and epistemology. He taught previously at the Universities of Cambridge and Toronto, where he was Director of the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, and at Notre Dame, where he was Director of the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values. Between degrees, he worked on various projects in international development, a cause he feels strongly about to this day.

elizabeth_reiner_platt-361x480_1

Elizabeth Reiner Platt

Member since 2022

New York

  • Biography

    Elizabeth Platt is the Director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project at Columbia Law School. Before joining Columbia, she was a Staff Attorney at MFY Legal Services Mental Health Law Project. After graduating from New York University School of Law, she was a Carr Center for Reproductive Justice Fellow at A Better Balance. During law school, Liz worked with the Urban Justice Sex Workers Project, New York Civil Liberties Union, and Brennan Center for Justice. In 2013, she published Gangsters to Greyhounds: The Past, Present and Future of Offender Registration, 37 N.Y.U. Rev. L. & Soc. Change 727 (2013).

andrew seidel

Andrew Seidel

Member since 2023

Wisconsin

square web victoria

Victoria Anderson

Member since 2025

New York

  • Biography

    Victoria Anderson is a third-year law student with a passionate interest in human and civil rights activism. She believes that effective and sustainable change should start with building strong communities.

    While pursuing an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Victoria helped start an SSA chapter at her university, in the heart of the Bible Belt. She has since started a second chapter at her law school to bring together future attorneys with a passion for church-state separation and promoting equal rights for everyone, regardless of their background.

    In her free time, Victoria enjoys spending time with her family and cats, playing video games, and starting arguments with her university’s chapter of the Federalist Society.

Kristina302129 (2)

Kristina Lee

Board Member since 2025

South Dakota

  • Biography

    Kristina M. Lee is currently completing her Ph.D. in Communication Studies at Colorado State University and will be starting as an Assistant Professor at the University of South Dakota in the fall of 2022. Her research focuses on the intersections of religious and political rhetoric with a particular focus on secular rhetorical criticism, Christian nationalism, and the marginalization of atheists. Her award-winning work on “theistnormativity” focuses on and challenges how political discourses, rituals, and symbols normalize a connection between good citizenship and belief in God in the United States. She is passionate about promoting productive interfaith dialogues and civic engagement.

 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.