Team Highlight: Rachel Wissner ‘11
For the rest of the year, we will be introducing you to our team at Students for Sensible Drug Policy! Today, we have our Development Director, Rachel Wissner!
Rachel Wissner ’11 (she/her)
Development Director
Previous and/or Current Chapter Involvement
SUNY New Paltz 2011-2016
Short Bio
Rachel Wissner is the Development Director at SSDP. Rachel began her career as a drug policy reformer ten years ago, after she was expelled from her public high school in her senior year for marijuana possession. During her time as an SSDP chapter leader at SUNY New Paltz, she led the campaign to end the campus’ “two-strike” marijuana policy and worked on the successful New York statewide campaign to “Ban the Box,” which resulted in the SUNY Board of Trustees vote to remove all questions regarding criminal convictions from the SUNY college application in 2016. Rachel previously worked at Family Law & Cannabis Alliance, providing assistance and resources to parents and pregnant people affected by the War on Drugs, and the New York Public Interest Research Group, fundraising for their environmental justice campaigns. Rachel joined SSDP’s staff in 2018 and served as SSDP’s Interim Executive Director in 2020.
How did you find SSDP?
I found SSDP when I was searching for legal help when I was expelled from high school.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of SSDP?
The incredible community.
If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be? Why?
Franz Kafka, my favorite writer
Favorite Food
Chocolate
Favorite Quote
“If there’s no dancing at the revolution, I’m not coming” -abridged Emma Goldman quote
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With thousands of members at hundreds of chapters across the United States and the world, Students for Sensible Drug Policy is working to replace the failed and misguided War on Drugs with policies that value public health, human rights, and individual liberties. Invest in a more sensible future by making your tax-deductible donation to SSDP today!
