Executive Director Transition

A Letter from the Board of Directors

October 21, 2026


Dear SSA Community,


After more than 9 years as our Executive Director, Kevin Bolling has decided to step down, effective October 23rd. He’ll be accepting a new role as the Executive Director of a youth-focused non-profit in California, and we wish him the very best. 


“Kevin cares deeply about the students we exist to serve, and that genuine care has grounded the rest of his work, and ours. We’re a stronger, better organization because of his leadership, and I’m deeply grateful for his incredible dedication and his years of service.”

--Ryan Bodanyi, Board Chair


A few highlights from Kevin's tenure include:

  • Scaling our longstanding scholarship program to recognize and reward remarkable student activists. In 2026 - our largest year yet - we disbursed over $45,000 to outstanding secular students. 
  • Expanding our active network to 243 chapters nationwide, instigated by two important strategies that facilitated growth. Kevin’s fundraising efforts activated a student leader stipend program, now in its third year. And an innovative campaign reaching out to 1.6 million college students, connecting them to information about secular organizing, scholarship opportunities, and raising awareness of nonreligious identity among students nationwide.
  • Launching our  annual Secular Spring Break program, bringing secular students together to build community in service of others. Heading into our 9th year, our unique secular service initiative demonstrates doing good without god. 
  • Hosting SSA conferences, creating access to leadership development for students. Conferences connect, build community, and provide opportunities to learn from each other and secular thinkers like Sasha Sagan, Jane Elliott, Katherine Stewart, Jarred Huffman, and Jamie Raskin.


Kevin’s steady leadership was especially vital during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. When lockdowns forced students into remote learning, the isolation was particularly difficult for the nonreligious students we serve, many of whom rely on SSA for community, acceptance, and support. Kevin helped us pivot swiftly, reimagining our programming and student services for online spaces so that no student had to navigate that uncertain time alone.


Today’s Secular Student Alliance is stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for the future because of Kevin’s years of dedication and hard work, and the SSA board is profoundly grateful for all his many contributions. 


While the board begins a national search for our next Executive Director, we’re proud to announce that Elena Howells will serve as acting Executive Director. Currently serving as the SSA Deputy Director, Elena is well positioned for the role due to her many years as an Associate Vice President in higher education. We’re confident in her leadership, and excited about this new chapter for our organization.


“Elena has made a strong mark on SSA since joining as Deputy Director this year, so naming her acting Executive Director was an easy decision. I am confident she will lead the organization well, with a clear focus on our students and the secular community. We are grateful for her leadership as we conduct a national search for SSA’s next leader.”

--James Modisette, Board Vice Chair


With deep gratitude,


The Board of Directors

Secular Student Alliance

About Elena

Elena Howells assumes the role of acting Executive Director for the Secular Student Alliance on October 24th, 2026. Prior to joining SSA, Elena worked in higher education administration for more than 14 years, most recently serving as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Registration at a small, nonprofit health sciences institution. In that role, Elena and her team implemented a successful student advising program that increased student retention and satisfaction and resulted in a commendation from the institution’s accrediting agency, led a transition in the institution’s student information system that included updates to nearly all policies and procedures related to student records, and oversaw the relaunch of the institution’s student government following a COVID-19 hiatus, which included working with a broad group of students and administrators to rewrite the governance bylaws to ensure representation by students from each academic college on the student executive board. 


Prior to her work in Student Affairs, Elena served in a variety of administrative roles in higher education, which included functions such as supervision of university donor and alumni relations offices, coordination of executive and Board of Trustees support, and creation of a Policy Development and Review committee to ensure broad institutional input and alignment on official university policies and procedures.


"I am deeply moved by the SSA mission to empower secular students. I believe that a secular society–where all people are embraced as intrinsically valuable regardless of their belief system; where problems are solved through the application of technical and scientific expertise, critical thinking, curiosity, and compassion; where state and church remain firmly separate–is a prerequisite for a healthy and functional democracy. I am honored to collaborate with SSA students, donors, friends, staff, and Board members during this transition, as we continue our work to build a better world."

--Elena Howells