Meet the New AHA Staff Member: Sage Rossman
Please welcome the AHA’s new Communications Coordinator, Sage Rossman!
What is your educational and work background?
My very pandemic-inturrupted college experience centered around the sciences! I studied neuroscience (and LOVED it), and added on an ecology-focused biology major after realizing I didn’t want to pursue bench science. My interests veered increasingly towards science communication, fueled by some awesome professors who let me write essays about wild topics (if you want to argue about whether machines are conscious or learn about the history of research on BDSM kinks, hit me up). I took full advantage of my university’s paid internship program to explore this interest, and dabbled in everything from medical literature reviews to behavioral science consulting. Aside from a great many internships, my most interesting “side hustle” was participating in neuropharmacology studies. This was fascinating from the perspective of a neuroscience nerd, and also a great way to try out illicit substances in a safe and legal environment!
After graduating, I joined a wonderful Chicago-based environmental nonprofit, Urban Rivers. I created and ran programming, doing a ton of on-the-ground education and engagement work. On a tiny team of four people, I had the chance to take on all sorts of responsibilities, including many aspects of the organization’s communications work. I ended up running their social media, newsletter, and website – and for now, I still do! The day-to-day experience at Urban Rivers was pretty exciting, and included everything from writing grant applications to fielding press inquiries about an abnormally large local snapping turtle. Look up “Chonkosaurus” for more information on this absolute legend. If you’re more of a mammal person, look up “Ida Beav Wells” – you won’t be disappointed.
Sage Rossman
How did you first learn about humanism?
I’d heard the term “humanism” thrown around here and there as a teenager, but hadn’t bothered to really look into it until I discovered the AHA much more recently. I’d never known anyone who labeled themselves as humanist – mostly because I didn’t know anyone who cared to label themselves. I was in the same boat, and like many humanists, became fond of the title upon reading more into AHA and thinking “yep, that’s me!”
Did you grow up in a traditional religious faith? How did it impact you?
I grew up stalwartly atheist, and have actually warmed up to religion as I’ve aged. The first and only time I was sent to the principal’s office as a child was over a heated argument about whether or not god exists – I was 8. My extended family (secular Jewish on one side, quietly/vaguely Christian on the other) is mostly composed of educators, healthcare workers, hippies, and science nerds. My household shared a general opposition to organized religion, which I think was linked to my grandparents’ heavy involvement in the West Coast counterculture movements of the 60’s. My parents were open to tasteful alternatives, however, and bought me an ordination to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster for my 12th birthday.
I entered adulthood with an indignant attitude towards religion, which slowly faded as my life stabilized and I started having the energy for empathy and curiosity. I made interfaith friendships in my academic programs and realized it was possible to practice religion alongside science. My lifelong interest in environmental stewardship helped me understand the importance of traditional ecological knowledge, which I felt naturally connected to due to my rural upbringing – a great motivation to respect diverse ways-of-knowing. Through a recent interest in political activism, I witnessed the power of cross-faith partnerships in galvanizing wider movements, and feel especially moved by Jewish pro-Palestine activism. I still consider myself atheistic, but no longer view religion as something that inherently clashes with my worldview.
What interested you most about working for the American Humanist Association?
There are many evil things happening in the world, and like most of my peers, I feel a pressing need to Do Something. It’s been difficult to figure out where I can make the most impact, and it often feels like there’s a tension between high-level political advocacy and local-level mutual aid work. AHA supports BOTH, and has also managed to consistently be on the right side of history for the past 85 years – no small feat. I’ve always believed that policy dictates the speed of change, and social conscience dictates the direction. AHA understands the importance of both, and dismisses neither.
Beyond that, everyone involved with AHA is super duper cool, and I want to be friends with them. Not much more to say on that front.
What book has influenced you the most?
“Cobalt Red” by Siddharth Kara. It’s not my #1 favorite book, and not the world’s most enjoyable read, but it has definitely had the biggest influence on my worldview. One of the big takeaways from “Cobalt Red” is that atrocities are allowed to occur because every single group involved in them finds a way to deflect responsibility – corporations, governments, consumers and players at every step of the supply chain. As a consumer, it made me think about accountability in a way that I’d never really wanted to. I think about this book on at least a weekly basis – when I buy my groceries, when I drive my car and when I charge my phone. It’s a constant reminder that everything has a shadow. It’s also a compelling manifesto on environmental justice, an incredible example of on-the-ground journalism, and a humanely-written piece that captures gentleness and humanity within immense tragedy.
If you could have dinner with any three people in the world (living or dead), who would they be and why?
Easy – my three late grandparents, plus my one living grandparent! I know I’m supposed to pick three, but I’m inviting my alive grandmother since her beloved late husband would be there, so it would be terrible not to include her. I would love to see my grandparents again, but I’d also just love to get them all at the same table, since they’re very different people and it would be funny to see how they all interact. They are four deeply good humans, and they’re huge inspiration for everything I do.