Secular Hub Board of Directors
Barbara Sannwald
Chair/Treasurer
I have been a non-religious person all of my life. As a young adult seeking community, I got involved in various secular groups in the Denver area, hosting book groups, speakers, and social events. I became one of the founders of the Secular Hub in 2012 and joined the Board of Directors in 2016. During this time, the Hub has transformed into a thriving, vibrant community. I look forward to building the Secular Hub into a regional center that attracts major speakers, encourages stronger connections among local groups, and helps our secular community flourish.
My professional background includes 30 years as an Information Technology consultant, specializing in Oracle database development. I have an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT and an MBA from the University of Denver.
Monica Toole
Vice Chair
Monica and her family are proud members of the Secular Hub since 2017. Monica was raised in the Catholic tradition, but as she sought more knowledge and began traveling the world, she realized that religion and a belief in deities was not compatible with her understanding of the laws of science and that religion is oppressive and discriminatory for women, the poor, and many marginalized groups.
Monica was a public high school teacher where she taught English, History, and Musical Theater before pursuing a Juris Doctor degree. She was a Law Fellow to former US Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, and clerked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania. Monica has been committed to serving marginalized communities for her entire career and has practiced as an indigent criminal defender in California and Colorado since 2009 and manages her own law firm. Monica is also a part-time, local actor and serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit, Wheat Ridge Theatre Company. She is an avid traveler and speaks French fluently. Monica and her husband raise their four children in the local area.
In addition to her role on the board, Monica coordinates family and youth programming at the Secular Hub. She also administers and leads the Secular Scouts, an all-inclusive scouting program at the Hub. Monica hopes to increase the participation of families and youth in our community as we work to build and grow our diverse membership at the Secular Hub.
Diana White
Secretary
My active participation in the Secular Community began when I found various social groups related to humanism, atheism, and freedom from religion on Meetup.com. The intrigue quickly turned into passion, and I have remained a member of the Hub since 2014. Since those fledgling first few years, it has been rewarding and uplifting to see the Hub grow into the vibrant organization that it is today, knowing that is has served so many members of our community, and that for some it has been life changing.
My professional background includes time as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Air Force, as well as 25 years in higher education, where I am currently an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education at the University of Colorado Denver. From 2014-2019, I served as Director of the National Association of Math Circles, leading a group that provided training, resources, and support to the more than 200 local Math Circles for teachers and students around the country. Related to these roles, I have written, applied for, received, and managed several million dollars in grant funding, from both government and community-based organizations. In addition, I have experience securing donations for programs from personal donors. I have decades of experience designing and leading professional development for K-12 teachers, writing research and practitioner-based articles, and presenting at national and international conferences.
I have also been a volunteer mediator for Community Mediation Concepts, focusing primarily on mediation and conflict resolution between neighbors, and between businesses and neighbors. In my free time, I have a passion for nature, hiking, animals, traveling, and sightseeing. I’m an avid fan of women’s sports, including Nebraska Women’s Volleyball - GO BIG RED!
My academic background includes earning my Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska, my master’s at the University of Illinois, and my Bachelor’s at the U.S. Air Force Academy, each in mathematics. I’m currently working on a Master’s in Analytics from Georgia Tech.
I intend to leverage my leadership experience and technical skills, including public speaking, conflict resolution, budgeting, fundraising, writing, and organizing, to help the Hub continue to thrive and grow, with an initial focus on fundraising initiatives. With its own building and large membership, the Hub is unique nationally. I would like to see the evolving story of the Hub publicized more, and for us to play a larger role in national secular organizations and communities. At the same time, I also hope to see us expand our local activities and programming to reach more people and contribute more to our local community.
Becky Greben
Director
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 a long time member of the national organizations The Center for Inquiry (publisher of Free Inquiry and Skeptical Inquirer magazines), and the National Center for Science Education. She is one of the founders of the Secular Hub. 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 secretary of the Metro Denver chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and also the board secretary for the Western Interior Paleontological Society. She has been a volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for more than 21 years (working in the fossil preparation lab), and volunteers annually as a judge for the high school state science fair held at CSU.
Dirk Huizenga
Director
I have been a non-religious person most of my life, but have very seldom have been in the company of atheists more than one other at a time. About 10 years ago, I started getting involved with secular groups in Colorado. I think the secular community needs more of a voice in our society and I want to help that happen.
I have degrees (BA & MS) in Business and Information Management Science and have taken courses in non-profit management. I also completed the Colorado Nonprofit Board Member Course in 2020, which I recommend to all prospective Board Members.
I have served on the Boards of several non-profit organizations including Schussbaumer Ski Club, where I also managed the maintenance of the 72-bed chalet in Breckenridge. And the Secular Hub, where as a Board Member and a volunteer, I helped:
- rewriting the Bylaws to make the Secular Hub member managed,
- created and maintained a strategic plan,
- advocated for more volunteer recognition.
- redeveloped our web site to work better on mobile phones,
- developed and maintained the membership database application,
- kept information secure and systems updated,
- videotaped several Hub presentations and uploaded to our YouTube Channel,
- cooked bacon for Pancake Breakfasts (Praise the Lard!),
- and many more things behind the scenes.
I would like to continue building and improving the Secular Hub. I will:
- improve the transparency of the Secular Hub Board,
- improve the management of the Secular Hub by operational planning,
- promote, support and encourage our community.
Pete Haines
Director
When I was little, my family attended the Unitarian Church, but that stopped after my parents' divorce. Over the years, I attended various churches with family and friends, but never found anything useful in those experiences.
As a young adult I initially pursued cooking after leaving high school at 16. However, at 21, I shifted focus, and went back to school, eventually earning a bachelor's degree in Child Development. After graduation I worked in residential treatment for troubled teens before taking a part-time supervisor role at UPS and joining the Army National Guard so I could be home with my newborn son during the day. A move to Las Vegas prompted a return to education. I have been teaching History since 2004.
After my divorce in 2013, I returned to Colorado. I lived in Grand Junction and Greeley before moving to Denver in 2019. I found the Hub as the Covid restrictions were winding down. Since then I have been active in a few areas, cooking for the pancake breakfast and serving on the events committee, among others.