American Atheists works with local leaders to support the work of groups, other nonprofit organizations, and activist organizations on the ground throughout the nation.
If you have questions about our State Director program, please contact National Field Director, Samantha McGuire, by email.
Click on your state below to learn about your local State Directors
Alabama
Kristine Klopp
Kristine was born in Canada and was raised secular. She moved to Alabama in 2001. Shortly after, she sought out a local atheist group for support and relief from the religiosity surrounding her in the deep south bible belt. Kristine works as a Counselor for the State of Alabama and part time as a Therapist at a mental health hospital. Kristine is an Administrator and founder of Mobile Atheist Community since 2012, and became an Assistant Director for Alabama with American Atheists in 2017.Arizona
Donald Lacey
520.370.8420Donald Lacey is a Life Member and the State Director for Arizona. He is a retired research and development engineer and program manager. He retired as a Major from the US Air Force after 27 years and worked at Raytheon Missile Systems until March of 2008. He is currently the organizer for Tucson Atheists as well as a charter board member of the Secular Coalition for Arizona. Don is also a program counselor for Camp Quest Arizona.Ronnie Litchfield
602.741.1566Ronnie has been an American Atheist Life Member since 2011 and has lived in the Phoenix area since high school. He is a Marine Corps Veteran, a Professional Engineer registered in Arizona, and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He enjoys amateur astronomy, traveling, and political activism against violations of the separation of state and religion.Kevin “Hondo” Hickman
Kevin has been a lifelong atheist, an advocate for science literacy, and an Arizona native. Known by "Hondo" in the motorcycling community, he is a founding member of the Reason Riders Atheist Motorcycle Association. With the Reason Riders, he has held an officer position since 2015 and is currently the National President.Arkansas
LeeWood Thomas
LeeWood was original member of the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers, serving as its first Vice-President in the early 90's. Later, he served as media liaison during many of the more newsworthy moments. Some of the notable milestones he was involved with include a Beware of Dogma billboard (FFRF sponsored), a (Coalition of Reason sponsored) bus campaign that went to court and finally landed on the buses around Central Arkansas, and a temporary "solstice display" that also took ASF through a court process where they prevailed. More recently, upon moving out of Little Rock and into neighboring Saline county, he created a local free thought group called the Saline Atheist & Skeptic Society.Allison Byrum
Allison is an IT professional who was raised vaguely Christian, then spent high school being very Christian. While studying abroad in college, she came to two conclusions: even the ancient cathedrals held no divine Presence, and the town church served just as much of a civic center as a place of worship. Back stateside, it took a couple of weeks to get past the terror of being sentenced to hell by an entity she could no longer believe in. Today, her goals are to develop a secular community support structure equal to any church's, as well as explore humanist and natural sources of joy, awe, and inspiration. After living 6 great years in Los Angeles, she returned to her home state of Arkansas in part to become one more roadblock in the path of religious nationalism and intolerance.California
Jessica Kemper-Lytle
Jessica was raised Catholic in a small, rural town in Ohio. She earned a BS from Ohio University followed by an MS from Howard University in Washington, DC. She practiced as a pediatric speech language pathologist evaluating, diagnosing, and providing treatment services to children with disabilities in southern Connecticut before moving to California. She is an active member of the Atheist Community of San Jose as well as other local humanist and skeptic groups. Jessica is committed to advocating for science, reason, critical thinking, progressive intersectional activism, and the separation of religion and government.Evan Clark
Evan is a humanist entrepreneur, political consultant, and public speaker with over 12 years of experience tinkering with secular communities. Evan is the founder and creative director at Spectrum Experience LLC and serves as Board Chair for the Secular Student Alliance. Since 2019 Evan has served as Executive Director of Atheists United in Los Angeles, CA. Previously Evan was co-host of the Humanist Experience podcast and co-founder of the Humanist Community of Ventura County. As a student leader, Evan was the founder and president of the Secular Student Alliance at California Lutheran University (CLU) and was also elected CLU’s first openly atheist student body president.Colorado
Rebecca Greben
Becky grew up in a non-believing family in Chicago and moved to Denver in 1980 where she later joined the Humanists of Colorado and the (now defunct) Rocky Mountain Skeptics. She is one of the founders of the Secular Hub, which provides a place for Colorado's Front Range secular communities to gather. Becky is active in the secular community and is a long time member of CFI and NSCE, as well as a secretary of FFRF's Denver chapter. Becky holds Bachelor degrees in psychology and geology. She is retired from state government where she was the manager of several medical services programs in the Division of Workers’ Compensation. She is currently the board secretary for the Western Interior Paleontological Society and has been a volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for more than 24 years, working in the fossil preparation lab. She also volunteers annually as a judge for the high school state science fair held at Colorado State University.Janaan Abbott
Janaan is a nonbinary human who uses the pronouns ze/zir/zirs. Ze is retired and the parent of nine atheist/agnostic adult children. Ze has been involved with the Boulder Atheists almost since its beginning and is currently the Secretary/Treasurer for that organization. Janaan is also a member of the Secular Hub in Colorado. Ze enjoys hiking, backpacking, and reading. Janaan has been an atheist since age 14 after realizing there was no evidence for the existence of any supernatural beings.Sarah Ray
Sarah Ray is a transgender atheist woman who left Christianity with a passion for community building – especially in rural areas where it's often difficult to be "out" or find like-minded people. She is focused on organizing secular community to focus our energy into productive, positive impacts in our world. Sarah is an endorsed Humanist Celebrant and serves on the Board of The Humanist Society, Support Group Leader with Recovering from Religion. She was a co-founder of the Atheist Community of Polk County, Producer/Host of the YouTube show "Freethought in Florida", and co-chair of the FL State Advocacy Team. Sarah and her family have recently moved to Colorado where she will serve as co-chair of the CO State Advocacy Team and look for ways to get involved in the local community in her new home state.Delaware
Chuck Dyke
Florida
Jocelyn Williamson
Jocelyn Williamson, a lifelong atheist and Humanist, is the American Atheists’ Florida State Director, President of the Florida Humanist Association and co-founder of the Central Florida Freethought Community (CFFC). The CFFC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of freethinkers, Humanists, atheists, and secularists working and playing together with reason and compassion as guiding principles. She is an ordained Humanist Celebrant through the Humanist Society. Jocelyn serves as a Florida Representative for the Freedom From Religion Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors for the BE Orlando Humanist Fellowship. In 2012, she founded the Science League for Kids, a scouting group for boys and girls. Jocelyn has given more than 15 secular invocations in Central Florida and received the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s “Nothing Fails Like Prayer” award in 2018 for a secular invocation she offered for a Florida city council meeting.Joseph Fenty
I am originally from Brooklyn, N.Y. During my mid-twenties I moved to the Midwest, and after several decades, I moved to Punta Gorda, Florida. I have postsecondary degrees from Pace University, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Michigan. I have worked in the field of higher education and health administration. I am delighted to serve and to promote the mission and values of the American Atheist. I believe our collective efforts can fix our ailing democracy, reduce inequality and improve the lives of the citizenry.Devon Graham
Devon was raised just outside of Pittsburgh in an evangelical Christian household, the grasp of which she has only freed herself from in 2016. She still maintains a slight Yinzer accent. With a Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of Maryland, she is currently a faculty member at a nearby unnamed university researching the development and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. When she’s not playing with her mice and begging for grant funding, she is busy raising her two children to be functioning, freethinking members of society.Keith Becher
Keith is an Assistant State Director for American Atheists. He is the co-founder and organizer of the Humanist Community of the Space Coast. Keith serves on the boards of the Central Florida Freethought Community, The Florida Humanist Association, the Space Coast Freethought Association, and Space Coast Pride. He is also a Humanist Celebrant.Indiana
Troy Moss
Troy is the President of Northern Indiana Atheists, a non-profit established to fight state/church violations on a local level and defend the rights of atheists across Northern Indiana. Atheists are underserved in our communities and underrepresented by our government. NIA works to elevate the voices of atheists in public discourse while supporting our members and atheist communities across Northern Indiana. Troy is proud to be State Director for American Atheists in Indiana. The support and legal assistance provided by American Atheists allows us to do the work that needs to be done in Northern Indiana.Andrew Garber
812.223.0022When Andrew was de-converting from Catholicism, he tried every religion he could find. From Buddhism to Satanism, nothing seemed to fit. Imagine trying on dozens of straitjackets looking for something comfortable. In atheism, he's found the sweet relief of streaking! Today, Andrew looks to help make the world better for everyone. God can't help people, but people can!Jama Sullivan
765.407.0140Jama enjoys reading and poetry. Jama has two children, a dog, and a cat. Jama wants to fight for equal rights and stands up when inequality is under attack.Iowa
Ashley Bennum
Ashley grew up in central Iowa and currently lives in Ankeny. She joined Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers in order to help shift the negative stigma around atheists and other nonbelievers. Ashley was brought up attending chuch but even as child she was skeptical of the bizarre bible stories. In college where Ashley studied world religions, and the new and old testament, her non-beliefs were solidified. As a board member and the main event organizer for IAF she has helped to foster local community and encourage members to be more involved in activism and advocacy.David French
David works to protect the separation of religion in government in Iowa and where he used to live in Illinois. He demanded equal access for atheists and religious minorities on the local town square and worked to change the prayer policy at the local city council. David serves as a CASA (Court Appointed Child Advocate), working hand in hand with child services to make sure children are not allowed to fall through the cracks in the system. He also volunteers for World Relief, helping refugees get settled in, find work, learn English, learn bus routes, and become self-sufficient.Kentucky
Michael Stark
Michael Stark was raised as a Christian and had been in church all his life. After high school he joined the navy and by the end of his service he started questioning his own believes. Now as an atheist he constantly concerns himself with church/state separation issues and participated in activism whenever he can. He continues to study Christianity and enjoys discussing and debating various aspects of religious belief.Detryck von Doom
Detryck von Doom is a member of Louisville Atheists and Freethinkers, Black Nonbelievers of Louisville, and The Satanic Temple. He is co-founder of Satanic Louisville, a group dedicated to atheistic and rationalist Left Hand Path philosophy and activism, and co-hosts Tuesday Night Heathens, a bimonthly social gathering of left-leaning and Leftist atheists. Detryck is an avid gamer and a devoted husband and father of three.Jacob Mounts
Jacob Mounts is a 1993 graduate of Gibson Southern HS and 2003 graduate of Univ. of Southern Indiana. He is a US Army veteran. He is the founder of Tri-state Area Atheists and Skeptics in SW Indiana. He also engages in other humanist and free thinker groups locally, nationally and internationally at various levels of involvement.Nate Crawford
Nate is an avid skeptic, activist and the organizer of Paducah Freethinkers.Killian Bowen
Killian is the founder of the Secular Student Alliance at Morehead State University which they started in response to Kim Davis, the local county clerk, who denied marriage licenses to gay couples on the basis of religion. Killian has served on the national board of directors for the Secular Student Alliance, and currently works in the non-profit sector.Louisiana
Beth Deitch
Beth Deitch discovered that New Orleans was her true home almost 30 years ago, and has lived there ever since. She has a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and is currently teaching in the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. Her teaching experience covers Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Management, Leadership, Testing and Measurement, Statistics and Research Methods. Her main areas of research are workplace discrimination and employee well-being. Beth is on the Board of the New Orleans Secular Humanist Association, and handles a variety of tasks for NOSHA, including membership management and graphic design.Maryland
Mike Reid
Mike has been an atheist all of his life. He is a long-time secular activist and a former president of the Washington (DC) Area Secular Humanists (WASH). He was on the Board of Directors for the 2012 Reason Rally Coalition and organized the volunteers for that event. Professionally, he works in the aerospace field. He also volunteers at a major natural history museum. He is also a former science teacher. Mike holds a B.S. degree in geology and an M.S. in computer & information science.Massachusetts
Zachary Bos
617.935.4951Zachary has been State Director for Massachusetts since 2008. As past President of the Boston Atheists community group, he helped that AA affiliated grow into the largest secular membership organization in New England. He is a founding member of the Boston Coalition for Reason, Sunday Assembly Boston, and Secular Coalition for Massachusetts, and is a Trustee of Sunday Assembly America. He serves the community regularly as a nontheist celebrant, a citizen lobbyist, and fundraiser for secular causes and organizations and progressive campaigns. He is editor of Secular Age, and the convener of the Boston Interpath Workgroup. As a writer, his essays, translations, poetry and fiction have appeared widely in US and international publications. Professionally, he is an administrator at Boston University, and publishing director of Pen & Anvil Press.Michigan
Ryan Thibodeau
Recognized nationally as a Director and Designer of the marching arts, Ryan has the inspiration, leadership, development, and creativity that have helped young musicians enhance their professional, cooperative and leadership skills as well as their self-image, confidence and competitive spirit. Ryan has served his country as a non commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, provided growth and development opportunities for students as a music teacher in metro Detroit, and has performed and recorded professionally as a percussionist for over 20 years. Ryan is the host and creator of The Atheist Perspective podcast.Minnesota
Raghen Lucy
7015709488Raghen Lucy founded the Secular Student Alliance at Minnesota State University, Mankato and finds great joy in serving as an ambassador for the secular cause in Minnesota. She was inspired to major in Philosophy, Politics & Economics and pursue a career in Constitutional Law by her favorite author and religious critic, Christopher Hitchens. After completing her undergraduate program, Raghen is looking forward to attending law school and launching a career in Washington, D.C. She wants to deal with cases regarding freedom of speech and religion.Missouri
David Rosman
Originally from New York, David has experience in retail, insurance and non-profit management, including more than 25-years as adjunct faculty at major universities and colleges in Denver and Columbia, MO and today is the co-leader of the Columbia Atheists. He has worked with a number of non-profits and political campaigns as a campaign manager, Director of Communications and as a trainer, and was the Assistant Missouri State Director for the now defunct National Atheist Party. For the last 16-years, he has been a columnist for the Columbia Missourian, dealing with local, state and national politics, including First Amendment issues of the separation of Church and State. David holds a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Northern Colorado and his Bachelor’s degree in Administration from St. Louis University.Ken Null
Ken was born in Florida and raised as a Southern Baptist. He became a doubter when he was 14 and read Genesis and questioned light being created on the first day, when the sun was created on day four - and has lived as an atheist since. Ken moved to Kansas City, MO in 2013 and loves living there. In 2017, his employer deployed him to Mobile, AL for a 9 month period where he joined Mobile Atheist Community and met Kristine Klopp. Through those interactions he decided to become more active in activism. Ken is not only a member of AA, but also of FFRF and is currently working through the training to be a helpline rep with RfR. Living in a very conservative and Christian state made him realize that he needed to stand up and use his voice -- and that he wished to help others not only find their voices, but to realize that atheists do not have to live in the shadows anymore.Dan Flynn
Dan Flynn is a St. Louis area Funeral Director. He is also a Subject Matter Expert in Mass Fatalities for the Department of Homeland Security, a Consultant in Emergency Management and a member of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Disaster Mortuary Response Team. During the height of COVID-19 pandemic, Dan was assigned to staff the Federal Quarantine Center outside Atlanta, GA, then the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, at a time when the city was experiencing up to 1,200 COVID deaths per day. A year later, he was sent to assist at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Los Angeles County.
Dan has spend the last two decades surrounded by death, on a massive scale. For years, he has spoken against the level at which the religious right permeates the way in which our society treats the dead and the families of the deceased. He has witnessed that most people, in response to tornados, hurricanes and pandemics have been programmed to “send payers” rather than face reality and actually do something that would help the situation. Dan is a nationally know speaker and author, dedicated to the idea that organized religion has pressed its dogma so far into the fabric of our society that we have forgotten how to respond to our fellow human beings’ when in need, for even the most basic of human needs.