Biographies for CFI-Tally Advisory Board:
Harry Kroto, Ph.D.
Honorary President
Sir Harold (Harry) Kroto is currently a Francis Eppes professor of Chemistry at Florida State
University, where he is carrying out research in nanoscience and cluster chemistry as well as
developing exciting new Internet approaches to STEM educational outreach. In 1996 he was
knighted for his contributions to chemistry and later that year was one of three recipients of the Nobel
Prize for Chemistry in 1996. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, and holds an emeritus
professorship at the University of Sussex in Brighton, United Kingdom. The research program
focuses on the complex range of molecular constituents in carbon vapour; the development of novel
2 and 3D metal-cluster/organic frameworks as well as peptides; the stabilization of small fullerenes;
and carbon nanotube based devices behaviour. He has also initiated the Global Educational
Outreach for Science, Engineering, and Technology programme (GEOSET - www.geoset.info and
www.geoset.fsu.edu). GEOSET seeks to exploit the revolutionary creative dynamics the Internet
(which he calls it the GooYouWiki-World) to improve the general level of science teaching worldwide.
Harry obtained a first class BSc honours degree in chemistry (1961) and a PhD, in molecular
spectroscopy in 1964 at the University of Sheffield (UK). After post-doctoral positions at the National
Research Council in Ottawa, Canada (1964-66) and at the Murray Hill Bell Laboratories (NJ, US) in
1966-67 he started his independent academic career at the University of Sussex. In 1970 his
research group conducted laboratory and radio astronomy studies on long linear carbon chain
molecules, and with Canadian astronomers discovered that they existed in interstellar space. In 1985
together with Robert Curl, Richard Smalley and research students Jim Heath, Sean O’Brien and Yuan
Liu at Rice University (Texas) he carried out laboratory experiments which simulated the chemical
reactions in the atmosphere of red giant stars. These experiments uncovered the existence of C60
Buckminsterfullerene, a new form of carbon for which he together with Curl and Smalley received the
1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
In 1995, he launched the Vega Science Trust (www.vega.org.uk) to create science films of
sufficiently high quality for broadcast on UK network television. He has several other awards
including the Copley Medal and Faraday Lectureship of the Royal Society and the Longstaff Medal of
the Royal Society of Chemistry. He holds some 30 honorary degrees from universities all over the
world. From 2004 he has been on the Board of Scientific Governors at Scripps Institute. He was
elected a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences in 2007.
Mark Palmer, Esq.
President
Mark Palmer is a legally blind attorney, having graduated magna cum laude from the Florida State
University College of Law in 2010. Mark was previously an instructional technologist and UNIX
administrator. Mark is a former Mormon having served as a full-time missionary from 1997 to 1999
and later as leader of the men's ministry in his congregation.
In 2007, Mark completed the process of leaving his former faith for humanistic reasons and
founded the Tallahassee Atheists in 2008. He joined the board of CFI - Tallahassee in 2011 and was
hired as Executive Director of the Humanists of Florida Association 2012. He has become an avid
supporter of the modern secular movement in the United States.
Nathaniel Hall
Vice President
My name is Nathaniel Hall. I was born and raised near Tupelo, MS. I have lived in Tallahassee 3
years now, and am a 28 year old Software Tester with a local Telephony Software company.
I have been an active participant with the Tallahassee CFI Branch for over 6 months now. I have
been involved with the Tallahassee Atheist group for over a year and a half. I am an avid Social
Networker advocating for Secularism, Humanism and Science. I'm excited for the opportunity to serve
on the board position and spread the knowledge of those topics at CFI Tallahassee with such
intellectual, helpful and caring people. I would hope to continue planning exciting and entertaining
scientific presentations that will attract audiences young and old.
In my free time I enjoy weightlifting, watching documentaries, protesting in favor of the Separation
of Church & State and serving the community. I would like to become more involved with The Clergy
Project in the future. This project has a special place in my heart because I was on my way to the
Ministry when I was in my early 20's. I was a Creationist, misogynist, racist and homophobic Southern
Baptist who reveled in my ignorance. I slowly questioned more and more and looked elsewhere for
answers. I wish I would have had a resource and organization like CFI in my area while growing up. I
am very grateful for this organization and I look forward to helping us grow in leaps in bounds.
Thank you all for all that you have done to make this a great organization!
Gary J. Whittenberger, Ph.D.
Secretary
Although Gary grew up in Indiana, he has lived in Tallahassee for most of his life. After getting his
bachelors degree in psychology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Gary obtained his
masters and doctoral degrees from Florida State University in Tallahassee, where he specialized in
clinical psychology. He then worked for 23 years as a drug abuse program coordinator for the Federal
Bureau of Prisons, where he delivered psychological services to inmates, developed new programs,
and evaluated them. Since his retirement, Gary has spent much time reading, writing, and being
active in free-thought groups. He is also co-leader of the Freethinkers’ Forum at the local UU church.
Gary’s articles have been published in Skeptical Inquirer, Skeptic, American Atheist, and the
Tallahassee Democrat. He recently published his first book (2010) -- God Wants You to be an
Atheist, and more information about the book can be obtained at
www.godwantsyoutobeanatheist.com
Gary is interested in philosophy, religion, science, including psychology, and their
interrelationships. Gary is an avid sports and theatre spectator. He and his wife, Marci, have one
daughter– Amy.
Joan Patterson
Treasurer
Joan is a retired FSU faculty member with advanced degrees in psychology, education, and
information studies. Originally from San Antonio, TX, she has lived/worked in Washington, DC, North
Carolina, Alabama, the Province of Quebec, Canada, Kansas, Indiana, Missouri and Florida. For the
five years in Canada she was a Cistercian nun, but became a secular humanist about 20 years ago.
She moved to Tallahassee in 1995 and in addition to her membership in CFI, she belongs to the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee, The American Humanist Association, and Humanists of
Florida Association. Her interests include prehistoric cave art, world religions, current research in
archeology and human evolution, genealogy, and music of almost all genres (hardcore punk and
heavy metal excluded). Joan is widowed and has 5 children/stepchildren, 8 grandchildren, 7 greatgrandchildren (scattered from coast to coast), and a live-in dog and 2 cats.
Richard Hull, Ph.D.
Director of Programs
Richard Hull has a PhD in philosophy and has for many years written and spoken in the field of
bioethics. He retired in 1997 from a professorship at SUNY at Buffalo, and moved to Tallahassee in
2004. He is currently Executive Director of the Text and Academic Authors Association, a non-profit
professional organization of textbook and academic authors. He founded the Center for InquiryTallahassee, and is Vice President of the Humanists of Florida. His philosophical interests include
humanist ethics, including the ethical issues in natural and artificial reproduction; environmental
ethics. His papers and talks are available at www.richard-t-hull.com; his books, which include Ethical
Issues in the New Reproductive Technologies and a 10-volume Presidential Addresses of the
American Philosophical Association, 1901-200I, may be purchased there. He and his wife, Elaine,
support four Ugandan orphans and provide assistance in various forms to several other individuals
including two domestic and numerous feral cats.
Gary A. Stilwell, Ph.D.
Director of Communications
Gary grew up in Panama City, Florida, got a bachelors degree in Mathematics from Auburn, and
then joined the IBM Corporation. Upon retirement from working in science, technology, and supercomputers at IBM, he began second careers of scientific computer consulting, and academic
research, writing, and teaching. Combining his professional experience in the sciences with an
academic interest in religion (MA and Ph.D. in Humanities with emphasis on religion), he began
writing and lecturing on these subjects at the Florida State University and Academy in Tallahassee,
Florida.
His books – Christianity: 5000 Years of History and Development; Where Was God: Evil, Theodicy,
and Modern Science; and Afterlife: Post-Mortem Judgments in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece are
available here
John Porgal
Membership Director
John was born in Sanford Florida and grew up as a military brat, moving all over the United States.
After 8 years of honorable service as an Aviation Electronics Technician in the United States Coast
Guard (Joined, April 1977). John continued working in the Communications industry as a Radio
Frequency Communication Engineer, working on and designing various Two-way and Cellular
communication systems. Experience in Spread Spectrum Communications, Sonar Communications,
and Nortel 6 GHZ DS3 Microwave systems, T1 Microwave systems, (T1 and DS3) Tellabs DACS,
Ericsson AC and DC power systems. District Office Liaison, Independent Order of foresters, Public
Relations Officer, Independent Order of foresters. Nationally Certified EMT (expired).
Now retired and recently widowed after a 21 year marriage to Cheryl Anne Porgal, John keeps
himself busy working on various secular issues. Presently Leader of the Tallahassee Atheists,
Tallahassee, Florida. John is an avid Target Shooter, enjoys gardening and taking care of his two
dogs.
Marcia Z. Whittenberger, Ph.D.
Member at Large
Marcia, known to family and friends as "Marci", was born in Illinois, but spent all but a few years of
her life in Florida. She received bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees from Florida State
University in Tallahassee, where she specialized in school and community psychology. Marci’s
professional life has consisted of a combination of private practice, treating primarily children and
families, and service to the states of Florida and Georgia, acting as a psychologist for
developmentally disabled populations. She currently works at Southwestern State Hospital in
Thomasville, Georgia. Marci’s hobbies include theatre, music, and reading. She and her husband,
Gary, have one daughter– Amy.
Ray Bellamy. M.D.
Member at Large
Ray is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic and part time faculty
member of the FSU College of Medicine. FSU graduate in 1961. Former president of Fla. Orthopedic
Society and Capital Medical Society. Member of Tallahassee Scientific Society. Proud to be a 16
gallon blood donor at Southeastern Community Blood Center. Active with the Climate Reality Project
of Al Gore's group to oppose global warming deniers. Strongly in opposition to the marketing of
pseudoscience such as accupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, Reiki, and the like, to unsuspecting
patients. Enthusiastic tennis player in the 70 and over age division, competing nationally against
those who are still alive.
Warren Brackman
Member at Large
Warren Brackmann graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BSc in Computer
Science. He worked in Information Technology, mostly data and computer communications, and
related research, for over 30 years. He is now a freelance photographer and has taken photographs
for organizations in Ottawa, Ontario, Tallahassee, Florida and in South Georgia. His fine art
photographs have been exhibited in galleries such as the Brokaw-McDougall House and Gallery 1020
in Tallahassee, the Southern Rivers Fine Art Exposition in Camilla, Georgia and the Albany Area Arts
Council Gallery in Albany Georgia. He is also a co-director of the Freethinkers Forum, Tallahassee,
Florida, where he has been an active participant for over four years.
Brandi Braschler
Member at Large
Brandi Braschler is an atheist, skeptic, humanist, feminist, and student. She is currently a senior
biological science major at Florida State University, where she is president of Freethinkers FSU, a
campus atheist, skeptic, and freethought group. She considers herself an activist and has participated
in many events in Florida, including Occupy Tallahassee, Slutwalk Tallahassee, We Are Women
March of Tallahassee, and the protest of the Bradford County Courthouse ten commandments
monument. She often helps plan these demonstrations, including the protest of the Genocide
Awareness Project, an extreme anti-choice group, when they came to Florida State University.
Brandi was recently added to the Board of Directors of the Humanists of Florida Association, where
she serves as Director of their Conference Committee. She also recently founded a local feminist
atheist group, Tallahassee Godless Women. When she has free time, she likes to crochet, watch
Doctor Who and Star Trek, and complain on her blog, That Weird Atheist Girl.