American Atheists Speakers' Bureau

DaveSilverman.jpgDAVID SILVERMAN

President, American Atheists

Mr. Silverman has been an atheist since he was 6-years-old. Following a traditional Jewish education, he attended Brandeis University, where he completed his Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science while honing his debating skills with theists in numerous informal debates. After earning his MBA from Penn State, he married one of the Brandeis theistic debate opponents. They currently have a 20-year "mixed marriage" and a daughter, who is following in Dad's atheist footsteps. Dave served as a professional inventor at Bell Labs for 8 years (74 issued patents) and a Marketing Director for Natural Microsystems.

Dave became an activist in 1996 and soon became New Jersey State Director. He also founded the Alliance of Lucent and AT&T Atheists and Secularists, the first employee club of its kind. He was tapped to be the National Spokesperson in 2004, and then was named Vice President in 2008. The Board of Directors elected Dave as President in September of 2010.

Mr. Silverman has appeared on most major news programs including The O'Reilly Factor, Scarborough Country, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, CNN's Paula Zahn NOW, Nick News, Hannity and Colmes, FOX and Friends, NPR's All Things Considered, and many more. David hosts the Atheist Viewpoint TV show with co-host Dennis Horvitz.

Mr. Silverman may be contacted via email or at (908) 276-7300.

EdBuckner.jpgDR. ED BUCKNER

Former President and Board Member for American Atheists

Dr. Buckner has written, spoken, debated and appeared often in the media, both locally and nationally. He has been on MSNBC, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Fox News, the Michael Medved Show, CNN, the national CBS Radio News, NPR, and on nearly every local media outlet (radio or television) in the Atlanta and Buffalo areas. He has been quoted in newspapers all over the nation and, occasionally, elsewhere in the world, been a featured guest on many internet broadcast shows, and given the keynote address for Atheists Alliance International.

Mr. Buckner may be contacted via email.

EdwinKagin.jpgEDWIN KAGIN

National Legal Director and Board Member for American Atheists

Mr. Kagin is a constitutional attorney and founder/director of Camp Quest, a non-religious residential secular summer camp for children of atheists and other non-believers. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and the School of Law of the University of Louisville. Mr. Kagin is a former college English instructor and a U.S. Air Force veteran. He was also Editor of the Adaptive Behavior Project, an NIMH grant project that created the Adaptive Behavior Scale, an instrument for assessment of mental retardation, conducted at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center in Parson, Kansas.

Mr. Kagin is admitted to practice before all courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, Eastern District of Michigan, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eight Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of numerous Atheist, Freethought and state-church separation groups, and has published numerous articles dealing with religion, philosophy and politics. He is co-author of The Fundamentals of Extremism: The Christian Right in America.

Mr. Kagin's areas of expertise include ontology (existence of god), biblical inerrancy, state-church separation issues including the posting of the Ten Commandments and prayer in public schools, morality without religion, creationism as a religious viewpoint and not a science, and the Bible as foundation for moral behavior.

More on Mr. Kagin is available through edwinkagin.com and may reached via email to (859) 384-7000.

EddieTabash.jpgEDDIE TABASH

Constitutional Lawyer and Political Candidate

Mr. Tabash is a constitutional lawyer in California. He graduated magna cum laude from UCLA in 1973 and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles in 1976. He is a life member of American Atheists. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Council for Secular Humanism. From 1995--2002, he chaired the national legal committee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. He has represented the atheistic viewpoint in formal debates against some of the world's foremost Christian philosophers, including Peter Van Inwaagen, William Lane Craig, and Richard Swinburne. His topics for public speeches and debates include the separation of church and state and the question of the existence of God.

Tabash is a member of the California State Bar, the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association. He has successfully argued cases before the California Supreme Court. He serves as a part time judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Eddie Tabash is also one of the founders of the effort to organize atheists in the quest to elect people who don't believe in God to significant public office. In 2000, he was the only known atheist to be a major contender for a seat in a state legislature, coming in second out of four in a Democratic Primary for the California State Assembly. He serves on the state central committee and platform committee of the California Democratic Party. From 1983--1987, he was the California Issues Coordinator for the presidential campaigns of former Colorado Senator, Gary Hart.

Mr. Tabash can be contacted via emial.

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TERESA MACBAIN

Public Relations Director for American Atheists

Teresa holds the distinction of being the first female graduate of The Clergy Project, a private, invitation-only "safe house" community of current and former ministers who no longer hold the supernatural beliefs of their religious traditions.

As a former minister, Teresa brings a broad understanding of the religious lifestyle and its effects on personal well-being to the non-theist movement. Teresa is a dynamic and entertaining public speaker with a heartfelt compassion for those struggling to completely free themselves from their religion.

Teresa speaks on atheism in the pews and pulpit and on leaving religion.

Mrs. MacBain can be contacted via email or by phone.

BlairScott.jpgBLAIR SCOTT

Director of Outreach and Board Member for American Atheists

Blair has been an activist for twenty years, including activism in the Navy speaking out against mandatory church attendance, prayers over the 1MC (Navy PA system) on ships, and chaplain attendancy at reenslistment ceremonies. After leaving the Navy in 1998 he returned to Mobile, Alabama where he formed a local group and began activism as a civilian. During this time Blair joined American Atheists and within a few years became the Alabama State Director.

Blair was named American Atheists' Atheist Of The Year in 2007 and 2010 and received the Distinguised Service Award in 2009. In 2008 Blair became the National Affiliate Director for American Atheists and in 2010 was appointed as the Communciations Director. In 2012, Blair became the Director of Outreach for American Atheists in order to represent American Atheists at all major conventions. Blair is also the MC for the annual American Atheists' National Convention.

Mr. Scott has appeared many times in the media, including two appearances on FOX News' American Live With Megyn Kelly that resulted in numerous death threats. The death threats caused a media frenzy and garnered international attention. Blair has also appeared on the Michael Medved Show, CNN, NPR, and many other media outlets including multiple interviews on atheist-related podcasts. Blair has also participated in public debates, including Apoligists' Press editor Kyle Butt, which was simulcast to over 50,000 viewers.

On the side, Blair hosts the Critical Eye Podcast with co-host Tom Hand. Blair is also a stand-up comic.

Mr. Scott can be contacted via email or (256) 701-6265.

JamilaBey2.jpgJAMILA BEY

Journalist and Comedienne and Board Member for American Atheists

Jamila's areas of expertise include health and family policy, and all issues concerning the First Amendment. She particularly enjoys reporting on issues concerning religion and the separation of church and state.

A stand-up comedienne, Jamila says she enjoys the stage because it's a cheaper hobby than scrapbooking. Her first book about the role of religion in the lives of African-American women is to be completed in fall 2012.

Jamila can be contacted via email or (202) 656-2237.

AmandaKnief.jpg

AMANDA KNIEF

Administrative Director and In-House Counsel for American Atheists

Amanda Knief is the Administrative Director and In-House Counsel for American Atheists. She coordinates with staff and volunteers to handle logistics, policy issues, and the president’s schedule. Amanda also acts as American Atheists' human resources manager. Amanda Knief is a public policy and constitutional expert on religious freedom and civil liberties. Amanda has a JD from Drake University Law School and a BS in journalism and science communication from Iowa State University. She has previously worked as a legal counsel and legislative drafter for the Iowa Legislature and the lobbyist for the Secular Coalition for America.

Amanda speaks and presents about topics from public policy advocacy, lobbying, religious employment discrimination and legal issues for non-theists.

Amanda can be reached via email or by phone at 908-276-7300.