Roy Speckhardt
Encyclopedia
Roy Speckhardt, born January 24, 1973, in Carmel, New York
, is executive director of the American Humanist Association
, a non-profit civil liberties
organization in Washington DC.
. In addition to his college education, he received specialized training in nonprofit tax law, financial management, grassroots organizing, fundraising, and dispute resolution.
Early in his career, Speckhardt was a fundraiser for various causes, including AIDS
research and wildlife conservation, and worked on the "World Difference Campaign" of the Anti-Defamation League
. He worked for The Interfaith Alliance
from 1995 to 2001 as deputy director in charge of staff. Speckhardt worked as the director of membership and programs of the American Humanist Association
for four years, and began his present position as executive director in 2005. The American Humanist Association is the oldest and one of the largest groups of humanists and atheists in the United States.
, the United Coalition of Reason
, and the Secular Coalition for America
. He is also an advisory board member of the Secular Student Alliance
.
Speckhardt has appeared on CNN Headline News, Fox News' Fox and Friends, Good Morning America, and National Public Radio. He currently writes a regular column for The Huffington Post
and Patheos
.
Carmel, New York
Carmel is a town located in Putnam County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 36,465.There are no incorporated villages in the town, although the hamlets of Carmel and Mahopac each have populations sizable enough to be thought of as villages.The Town of Carmel...
, is executive director of the American Humanist Association
American Humanist Association
The American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
, a non-profit civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
organization in Washington DC.
Biography
Speckhardt earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Mary Washington College and a Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in information systems management, from George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. In addition to his college education, he received specialized training in nonprofit tax law, financial management, grassroots organizing, fundraising, and dispute resolution.
Early in his career, Speckhardt was a fundraiser for various causes, including AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
research and wildlife conservation, and worked on the "World Difference Campaign" of the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
. He worked for The Interfaith Alliance
The Interfaith Alliance
Interfaith Alliance is an interfaith organization in the United States founded in 1994. Its stated goal is to protect faith and freedom by respecting individual rights, protecting the boundaries between religion and government, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism and build common...
from 1995 to 2001 as deputy director in charge of staff. Speckhardt worked as the director of membership and programs of the American Humanist Association
American Humanist Association
The American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
for four years, and began his present position as executive director in 2005. The American Humanist Association is the oldest and one of the largest groups of humanists and atheists in the United States.
Other activities
Speckhardt serves on the boards of directors of the Humanist Institute, the Institute for Humanist StudiesInstitute for Humanist Studies
The Institute for Humanist Studies is a think tank, a Washington, DC based organization committed to providing information and other resources useful in the promoting of humanism and humanism centered solutions to pressing socio-political, cultural and economic issues...
, the United Coalition of Reason
United Coalition of Reason
The United Coalition of Reason, or UnitedCoR for short, is a national organization in the United States that works to raise the visibility of local groups in the community of reason. Nationally this is done by conducting campaigns which highlight the fact that nontheists live in every community...
, and the Secular Coalition for America
Secular Coalition for America
The Secular Coalition for America is an advocacy group located in Washington D.C., representing atheists, humanists, freethinkers, agnostics, and other non-theistic people with a naturalistic worldview in American politics. Sean Faircloth, a five-term Maine state legislator, served as Executive...
. He is also an advisory board member of the Secular Student Alliance
Secular Student Alliance
The Secular Student Alliance , founded in May 2000, is an independent, democratically structured organization in the U.S. that aims to serve the needs of freethinking high school and college students. The Secular Student Alliance is based in Columbus, Ohio...
.
Speckhardt has appeared on CNN Headline News, Fox News' Fox and Friends, Good Morning America, and National Public Radio. He currently writes a regular column for The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
and Patheos
Patheos
- History :Patheos was founded in 2008 by Leo and Cathie Brunnick, both web technology professionals and residents of Denver, Colorado. Leo, a non-practicing Catholic, and Cathie, a Lutheran-turned-Evangelical, started the project the week they were married as they tried to blend their...
.
External links
- Biography at the American Humanist Association.
- Speckhardt's Column on The Huffington Post.
- June 28, 2007 MP3 of Interview of Speckhardt on the syndicated Lizz Brown Show.
- http://blog.thehill.com/2007/06/27/scotus-ruling-in-ffrf-v-hine-places-politJune 27, 2007 guest blog on The Hill (newspaper)The Hill (newspaper)The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
's Congress Blog]. - Article in September/October 2005 issue of the Humanist.
- April 28, 2006 – Speckhardt's humanist perspective about religion and politics on PBS NOW.