Board of Directors & Staff

DIANA ASHLEY received her MBA from ASU in 1984. She worked in nonprofit finance for 20 years for social service agencies before moving into healthcare economics of Medicare and Medicaid programs for 17 years.

MICHAEL BRYAN is a retired prosecuting attorney, political consultant and activist. He founded BlogForArizona.net in 2003 - the oldest continuously published progressive Democratic blog in Arizona - and currently serves as an Arizona State Committee Member, the VP of Programming for Democrats of Greater Tucson, and a Member of the SecularAZ Board. Mike lives in Tucson with his wife Lauren Murata and dog Jackamo.

JEANNE CASTEEN has a bachelor’s degree in human communication and history from the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at ASU and a master’s in education, also from ASU. Jeanne has over 11 years of experience teaching in Maricopa County’s public schools. In 2011, Jeanne completed the Emerge Arizona program and in 2012 became a school board member of the Creighton School District. She served as Board President from 2016 through 2020. In 2020, Ms. Casteen ran for Maricopa County School Superintendent, and came within 12,000 votes of winning. She has been awarded the Arizona School Public Relations Association Award for Excellence in Advocacy and Political Contributions to Education as well as the Arizona School Board Association’s All-Arizona School Board Member Award.

EDDIE CHAVEZ CALDERON is a passionate advocate and activist whose life's work is dedicated to championing immigration justice and civic education. With years of hands-on experience, Eddie has become a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change within immigrant communities. His journey from Mexico to the forefront of advocacy is a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice and equality. Eddie's activism is deeply rooted in his personal experiences and his profound connection to Judaism and Jewish ethics. He embodies the principles of social justice, compassion, and collective responsibility that are central to his faith. This spiritual foundation empowers him to fight tirelessly for the rights and dignity of all people, especially the marginalized and voiceless. Eddie's inspiring leadership and relentless pursuit of a just society have made him a respected and influential figure. His work not only transforms policies but also touches lives, offering hope and a brighter future for countless individuals. Through his dedication, Eddie Chavez Calderon exemplifies the power of faith-driven activism and the enduring impact one person can have in the struggle for human rights and social justice.

LINSAY EVANS is committed to — and passionate about — the benefits that secular values offer for all, with a special interest in the areas of education, reproductive rights and non-discrimination. Linsay holds a master's in library and information science and a master's in social anthropology; her research focused on gendered representations in academic publishing and the effects of religiously driven population policies on women's access to reproductive health care in the Global South. She's worked in development for non-profits and foundations, as a copywriter, and in community relations.

MARY GANAPOL's interest in Arizona politics was cemented when she attended her first Secular Day at the Capital in 2018, part of a group of Freethought AZ members who brought a busload of Tucson folks to Phoenix. That day, Mary also found out about Period.org at the Planned Parenthood table and was inspired to start a Tucson chapter. Mary describes herself as an enthusiastic, optimistic volunteer who closely follows both local and national politics and understands how being vocal about local issues is critical to the political process. Now retired, Mary sees this chapter of life as a time to give back and be of service to the community. In addition to delivering free hygiene products to agencies throughout Tucson, she is passionate about bringing a death with dignity law to Arizonans through her work with the all volunteer, nonpartisan, non-sectarian grassroots organization Arizona End-of-Life Options.

IAIN HAMP has served on several nonprofit boards, including Save Our Schools AZ, Civic Engagement Beyond Voting, Junior Achievement of Arizona, and AZ LD25 Democrats, and is a founder of Phoenix Toolbank and Phoenix Suns Charities 88. He believes keeping as strong of a line between church and state as possible is key to a society in which people have the opportunity to thrive.

ARMONEE D. JACKSON is a dedicated social justice advocate and scholar, deeply committed to empowering communities across Arizona. With an impressive track record in organizing and leadership, she has established herself as a passionate force for change. Armonee has served as President of the NAACP Arizona State Conference Youth and College Division and was appointed to the NAACP National Youth Works Committee, highlighting her unwavering dedication to advancing civil rights. She has also been a fellow with Black Women Organized for Political Action, further solidifying her role as a champion for equity and representation. Currently, Armonee serves as the Partnerships and Membership Manager for the Arizona Coalition for Change | Our Voice Our Vote, where she works to amplify civic engagement and advocacy efforts. Breaking barriers, she is the first Black President of the Young Democrats of Arizona and a member of the prestigious 2024-2025 Leading for Change Fellowship cohort. Through her extensive organizing and leadership roles, Armonee continues to expand her expertise in social justice, using her skills to uplift and serve the diverse communities of Arizona.

WHITNEY "WHIT" JOHNSON has held secular values his entire adult life. Even before he discovered there was a label for his belief system — Humanism. He was an early member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Humanist Association, and is currently the Vice President of FFRF-VS, the Freedom From Religion Foundation - Valley of the Sun Chapter. Whit is a retired Air Traffic Controller and currently owns two small businesses in Phoenix.

SUZANNE STORY is a career educator who currently develops and delivers health, human services, and employee growth classes for Maricopa County. Prior to this, she served for over twenty-years as a teacher in the Peoria Unified school system, specializing in Advanced Placement English and History. In addition to her professional work, Suzanne is a longtime public advocate of rationalist, non-theistic approaches to state and national governance. She was a candidate for the Maricopa Country Board of Supervisors in 2020, earning over 170,000 votes and running on a platform emphasizing education, reproductive rights, inclusion, and human rights.