Debaters

Krystal Jackson

Krystal Jackson is the Vice President of the American Humanist Association. Krystal is a cybersecurity specialist at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency where she works to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure. Previously, she has worked on cybersecurity, AI, data ethics, and technology policy research for various think tanks, government agencies, advocacy groups, and universities.

Her humanist journey started in college, where she served on the executive team, including as president her senior year, of Carnegie Mellon University’s student group the Human League. In this role, she brought prominent humanist speakers to campus, engaged the secular student body, organized community service work, and led weekly discussion groups. During this time Krystal received a Secular Student Alliance scholarship for her activism and social justice efforts as a leader of this group. Krystal is passionate about interfaith work as well and was active in bringing the principles of Interfaith America (formerly Interfaith Youth Core) to her campus by working with administrators on interfaith strategic plans and additionally was involved with the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network. Krystal received the inaugural Americans United Youth Organizing Fellowship, enabling young people to advocate for the separation of church and state and promote inclusive religious freedoms. She also served on the board of directors of two of her city’s local secular groups, the Pittsburgh chapter of Sunday Assembly, and on the board chairing the activism committee of the Pittsburgh Freethought Community. In all her roles Krystal has been excited to promote humanist values, build community, and make secular spaces inclusive, vibrant, and welcoming for all people to be involved in.