2025 American Ethical Union Board Officer Slate

The Board Development Committee (BDC) has assembled the slate of candidates for the open seats of President and Secretary of the American Ethical Union Board of Directors. These officer positions will be filled by election at the 2025 AEU Assembly on July 26, 2025 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society.

Per the AEU Bylaws, all write-in nominations must be submitted to the BDC no more than seven (7) days after the publication of the candidate slate. The candidate slate must be published on or before May 30, 2025. The deadline for write-in nominations is June 6 to the BDC.

If you have any questions, please contact the BDC or BDC chair, Trang Duong.

Candidate for President

Scott Wright
The Ethical Society of St. Louis

Scott has been a member of the Ethical Culture Movement in St. Louis, Missouri since approximately 2015. After joining The Ethical Society of St. Louis (ESSL), Scott quickly became engaged with multiple volunteer teams and activity groups including their membership team and DEI committee. In 2023, Scott accepted a nomination for the President Track on the Board of Trustees at ESSL where he served as President for FY25, and is currently serving his final year on the ESSL Board as Past President. Additionally, Scott has served as the ESSL AEU Board Representative since April 2024. In his time as a Board Representative, he led a Task Force of ESSL Members to identify their priorities with regard to the AEU, and helped to create and implement the AEU Roadmap. Professionally, Scott works for a change management team at Washington University in St. Louis, doing project management work. He is also in his final semester of a Master’s of Project Management graduate degree, also with WashU. In his free time, he enjoys running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, listening to philosophy podcasts, playing old video games, and taking long walks in the park with his partner Casey and their distinguished black lab, Diesel.

AEU Board President Interest Statement

I would like to serve as an officer of the Board of the AEU because I see opportunity. I hear the many enthusiastic and passionate voices of my fellow AEU Directors and members of Ethical Culture Societies, all crying out for a robust national movement to rise to the occasion of being the beacon of light in our ever darkening world. For all our differences, I cannot help but to feel that we have the collective talent and will to overcome our recent conflicts and mistrust and emerge a stronger, more effective movement as a result. Personally, I deeply desire for there to be a landing place for every recently deconstructed atheist, agnostic, humanist, biocentrist, and “none,” and I believe our movement has the capacity to meet this need. I would be honored to have the opportunity to work with each of you towards making this vision a reality as the President of the AEU Board of Directors.

Candidate for Secretary

Rhiannon Johnson
Westchester Community for Ethical Culture

I am currently serving as Secretary of the AEU Board, completing my first year in this role and my second year as a Board member. I also serve on the Board of Trustees at the Westchester Community for Ethical Culture (WCEC), where I’m helping improve communication, enhance our website, and build volunteer partnerships with groups like Lifting Up Westchester and Feeding Westchester. As Director of Laboratory Science and Services at PDI, an infection prevention company, I lead a diverse team of scientists and manage a $2M+ operational budget. With over 18 years of experience in chemistry across healthcare and consumer goods, I bring a practical, ethical approach to leadership. I also serve on the Women’s Empowerment Network Mentorship Committee, where I help design programs that support personal and professional growth. In all I do, I strive to lead with integrity, collaboration, and a deep respect for community.

AEU Board Secretary Interest Statement

Serving as Secretary of the AEU Board this past year has been a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the Union’s revitalization. I believe in the power of Ethical Culture to build compassionate, action-oriented communities, and I am committed to helping strengthen its foundation. The role of Secretary allows me to combine my values-driven approach with my strengths in organization, communication, and follow-through. I continue to be guided by “Deed Before Creed” and see this role as a way to ensure our efforts are well-documented, inclusive, and aligned with our mission. My experience in both nonprofit governance and the corporate world—particularly managing complex projects and systems—helps me bring structure and adaptability to the board. I’m eager to continue supporting the AEU’s growth by fostering transparency, collaboration, and steady leadership.

About AEU Board Officer Elections

Board Officers serve a two-year term, and terms are staggered. There are currently two officer positions included in each annual slate. The President and Secretary positions will be filled by election in 2025, and the Vice President and Treasurer positions are scheduled to be filled by election in 2026.

The Board Development Committee serves as the nominating committee for AEU Officers. The committee is responsible for identifying qualified individuals and presenting a slate of Officers to the delegates of the Assembly at least thirty days in advance for their review and consideration before the Assembly.

Write-in candidates for nomination as an Officer require thirty (30) signatures representing at least three (3) different Societies. All write-in nominations must be submitted to the Board Development Committee no more than seven (7) days after the publication of the candidate slate for the Assembly.

Nominations for Officers shall not be accepted from the floor during the Assembly.

Read more about AEU Board Officer elections in the AEU Bylaws →