Alexandra Kriofske Mainella, PhD CRC
Dr. Kriofske Mainella is an assistant professor and rehabilitation counselor with 20 years of experience teaching accessible sex education.
Alexis Diaz (they/them), LMSW
Alexis is a queer second-generation Puerto Rican serving as a social worker since 2011, specializing in family-based therapy, youth development, and school-based programs.
Amanda Nicholson, LMFT, PhD, MEd
Dr. Nicholson, LMFT, MEd, is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a graduate of Widener University’s human sexuality program.
Ashley Cobb, CSC
Ashley is an HIV prevention specialist for Westcare Georgia, a CDC “Let’s Stop HIV Together ambassador and a PreP ambassador for the Black Women’s Health Imperative. Ashley is a sex educator and certified sex coach.
Bee Gehman, MEd, CSE, CDI
Featured Speaker
Bee Gehman (they/them) MEd, CSE, CDI, is the founder of jooux, the Deaf Sexual Wellness Center. With a decade of experience, Bee is an AASECT-certified sexuality educator, focusing on inclusive sexual health services, professional training, and comprehensive education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. A passionate advocate, Bee aims to eliminate disparities through genuine connections and systemic change. Their mission: Empower through education, bridge gaps, and dismantle barriers for accessible sexual well-being.
Bill Taverner, MA, CSE
Bill has been with The Center for Sex Education for 25 years and serves as the chief editor of the American Journal of Sexuality Education.
Breanna Lewis, MPH
Breanna attended Liberty University, receiving her master’s degree in Public Health. She currently works in South Florida as a Sexual Health Program Manager.
Camille Gaji
Camille has worked in sexual health education for the past eight years and has specialized in LGBTQIA+ sexual health for the past three years.
Candace Hardnett, MDiv
Candace is a progressive pastor, activist, and advocate for sex ed. Candace is the lead organizer for EducateUS: SIECUS in Action.
Catherine Obando, MSN, NP-C
Catherine is a dedicated clinician in sexual and reproductive health, offering abortion, birth control, counseling, and primary care services. She is affiliated with Planned Parenthood Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey, and is a National Abortion Federation board member, ensuring comprehensive care and rights.
Chief M.C. DeMund
Chief DeMund is Keeper of Ceremonies and Intertribal Affairs Director for the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania. He is of the Unami clan.
Chrissy Cmorik, MA
For 19 years, Chrissy led the education initiatives for the second-largest Planned Parenthood affiliate. She also served as an adjunct trainer for the State of California and held the position of adjunct professor at San Diego State University.
Courtney Bramstedt
Courtney has worked with Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties for the past five years and in sexuality education for over six years.
Crystal Charley, MBA, CD
Featured Speaker
Crystal D. Charley, MBA, CD, is a respected reproductive justice activist. The proud mother is the founder of Melanin and Maternal Wellness. She is a childbirth educator and certified doula. Crystal is the Director of Birth and Wellness Resource Hub for the Greater Mount Zion Community Development Corporation and a Senior Organizer for Salvation and Social Justice. She sits on the National Perinatal Task Force, Public Institute of New Jersey Board of Trustees, Board of Directors for the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, and Fair Share Housing Center. Crystal is the second Vice President of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference.
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN
Featured Speaker
Dr. Flores is an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing and an affiliated faculty at the Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. Through inclusive parent-child communication interventions, his research focuses on the early provision of health information attuned to the emergent attractions, behavior, and identities of LGBTQ+ adolescents to reduce risks for HIV/STI infection and negative mental health. Dr. Flores’ HIV/STI prevention work has included urban and rural community education, being a spokesperson for HIV testing campaigns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and workforce development with more than 1,600 nurses across three continents.
Dena Cox, MPH, CPH, MCHES®
Dena has more than seven years of experience in school-based sexual and reproductive health. She is the health education program manager for the New York City Department of Education.
Debby Herbenick, PhD, AASECT CSE
Debby is a provost professor at Indiana University and author of Yes Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know about Today’s Teens and Sex.
Deborah Chilcoat, MEd
Deb’s skills include project management, training design and delivery, and technical assistance. Areas of expertise include evidence-based, innovative, and evidence-informed approaches, strategies, practices, interventions, and programs.
Donna Oriowo, LICSW, CST
Dr. Donna specializes in working with Black women on issues related to colorism and texturism and their impact on mental and sexual health.
Brittany Williams, PhD
Dr. Brittany Williams is a professor and PrEP influencer affiliated with AIDS United, the National Minority AIDS Council, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Dianne R Browne, PhD, CFLE, CSE
Featured Speaker
Dianne Browne is a certified trainer/educator in family life, human sexuality, and family development. She is retired but serves as a consultant to the Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative, chairs the Anti-Racism Team of the NJ Synod ELCA, and facilitates Transforming White Privilege workshops. Dianne’s work focuses on reproductive justice, reproductive health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. Dianne has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and has presented at numerous conferences, webinars, and seminars. Her goal is to remain active in efforts working toward equity and justice to dismantle systems where structural racism thrives.
Elissa Barr, PhD
Elissa Barr is a professor of public health at the University of North Florida with expertise in sexuality education. She serves as chair of the Florida Healthy Youth Alliance.
Emily Scribner-O’Pray, MA
Emily is the program supervisor for Better Together Hennepin, which promotes the sexual health and wellbeing of young people in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Emma Daley, MA
Emma is a Consent Beyond Yes founder, author, somatic psychotherapist, Our Whole Lives facilitator, and Center for a New Culture organizer with a background in pre-K–post-secondary education.
Fuzzy Shostak
Fuzzy is an author, community organizer, Consent Beyond Yes founder, and teacher of consent and relationship skills, cooperative enterprises, alternative economics, movement, and more.
Dakota Ramppen, CSE
Dakota (she/they) is a tough love relationship coach and certified sexuality educator with a passion for helping people manifest and maintain their #relationshipgoals.
G Joseph Sample, PhD, MA, MPA
Dr. Sample teaches an aging and sexuality graduate-level course for Iowa State University and the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance master’s program in gerontology.
Hannah Wiers, MEd
Hannah (she/her) is a sex educator at HiTOPS, teaching youth of all ages about gender identity, sexual orientation, and more.
Hilary Towle, MEd
Featured Speaker
Hilary oversees the training and support of educators and trainers in implementing the PPLM-authored, evidence-based program Get Real: Comprehensive Sex Education that Works.
Jatesha “Jaye” Madden-Wilson, LPN
Featured Speaker
Jatesha “Jaye” Wilson, Founding President and CEO of Melinated Moms, is reshaping maternal health for women of color. As a nurse, social impact speaker, maternal health advocate, and mother of two, she empowers women through advocacy, mentorship, and resilience. Jaye’s personal journey, from adversity to motherhood, inspires women globally and transforms our perspective on parenting and support. With a background in community health management and advocacy for the LGBT+ community, she understands the power of public engagement in improving overall well-being. Jaye’s own experiences, including divorce, led her to create Melinated Moms, a supportive community redefining motherhood and womanhood.
Jenn Mason, MA
Featured Speaker
Jenn Mason is a sex coach, sex educator, and owner of WinkWink – an inclusive, all-ages, “not creepy” sex shop and education space.
Jess Bauzá de García, MOT
Jess is an occupational therapist and researcher. Their research works to increase awareness of health inequities and increase recommendations for clinical practice.
Jessica Duggan, MEd
Jessica is the community educator for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. Her article “Using TikTok to Teach about Abortion…” was published in Sex Education.
Jessica Swanson, AB
Jessica Swanson is an experienced full-spectrum sex educator and program manager who specializes in programmatic integrity and having difficult conversations in difficult environments.
Jill McCracken, PhD
Jill is a women’s and gender studies professor and the founder and project director of Choosing Myself, a comprehensive sexual health program.
Julia Bennett, MPH
Julia’s expertise is in sexual and reproductive health content and messaging, as well as adapting sex education practices to digital environments, working at Planned Parenthood Federation of America for 10 years.
Karen Rayne, PhD, CSE
Karen has been teaching about sexual health for over 20 years and is the founder and executive director of UN|HUSHED which provides sex ed curricula.
Karisse Callender, PhD, LPC, SAC
Dr. Callender is an assistant professor and practicing mental health and substance abuse counselor with research to improve health for those impacted by sexual violence.
Kayla Concannon, MS, OTR/L
Kayla is an occupational therapist, entrepreneur, researcher, and relational and sexual health educator in the Philadelphia area with congenital and acquired neurodivergent teens and adults.
Kelley Dennings, MPH
Kelley currently works for the Center for Biological Diversity. She has a Master’s in Public Health and is a certified family planning counselor.
Kelly Gainor, MEd
Featured Speaker
Kelly Jean Gainor is the Training Manager for ETR, focusing on the implementation of virtual TOEs. Prior to working at ETR, Kelly has worked at several non-profit organizations delivering evidence-based education to youth, training educators and youth-serving professionals, and writing/designing lesson plans for group of all ages, orientations and identities, including several published lessons.
A self-proclaimed board game nerd, Kelly loves to play board games with friends, family, and colleagues. So it’s only natural that she would want to combine her love of games, sex ed, and connecting people by creating opportunities for professionals to play games and learn together.
Latoya Lee, PhD
LaToya is a director at Delta Health Alliance who loves serving her community and works tirelessly to change the narrative of the Mississippi Delta.
Lauren Bialystok, PhD
Lauren is a philosopher and associate professor of social justice education at the University of Toronto and co-authored Touchy Subject with Lisa Andersen.
Lauren Hall, CHES®
Lauren, Director of Education at Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey, provides inclusive sexuality education to empower individuals with the knowledge, skills, and resources for optimal sexual health and wellness.
Laura Hancock
Laura has studied sexuality for over 20 years. She developed her own curriculum for parents of children ages 0-6 and teaches private classes.
Dr. Lexx Brown-James, LMFT, CSE, CSES
Featured Speaker
Dr. Lexx Brown-James, LMFT, CSE, CSES, is the premiere sexologist leading the field of sexuality with shame-free sex education and innovative sex therapy skills. As an AASECT-certified sexuality educator and supervisor, Dr. Lexx provides education and therapy from womb to tomb through her practice, The Institute for Sexuality & Intimacy, LLC. As a multiple-time Amazon best seller and creator of “Dr. Lexx’s Relationship Tune Up Cards,” Dr. Lexx is an international sexologist. Featured in television and print, such as Essence, The New York Times, NPR, Scary Mommy, and multiple news outlets, including Buzzfeed and Vice, and journal publications and books, Dr. Lexx breaks down the most complicated and taboo topics to create easily digestible and actionable change.
Lisa Andersen, PhD
Lisa is a former history professor and current director of academic strategy for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Mackenzie Bartlett
Mackenzie is an experienced arts non-profit professional. She is passionate about the intersection of education and community organizing.
Malinda Britt
Malinda (she/her), the “Dancing Sex Educator”, is a senior human sexuality educator at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, 2018 PPFA Global Youth Ambassador Fellow, and a Kaleidoscope Dance organizer.
Mary Jo Podgurski, RNC, EdD, LCCE, AASECT
Dr. Podgurski founded Washington Health System Teen Outreach in 1988. She and her staff taught comprehensive sex ed to over 250,000 young people.
MaryRose Mazzola, MPP, JD
Featured Speaker
MaryRose directs the ASPIRE Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health, which brings together Planned Parenthood’s nationally recognized research, clinical training, and professional education programs.
Michelle Slaybaugh, MEd
Michelle is the director of programs at SIECUS.
Monique Ingram
Monique is a senior human sexuality educator and resource lead at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.
Mystkue Woods, MEd
Mystkue (she/her) is a sexuality arts educator and consultant. CEO of Mystkue Publications LLC, Mystkue combines expressive arts and sexuality education for marginalized communities.
Nishi Ravi, MCouns
Nishi is a doctoral student who has been a group facilitator, psychotherapist, researcher, teacher, and trainee in England, India, Scotland, and the United States.
Nyasha Evans, MEd
Nyasha Evans is committed to supporting schools in their journey towards becoming trauma-informed. She’s a powerful voice in the movement towards creating inclusive learning environments.
Nyreida Herman
Nyreida has 18+ years of experience in community and school-based sexual and reproductive health. She is the condom availability program coordinator at the New York City Department of Education.
Oronde Cruger
Oronde holds a degree in neuroscience from Bowdoin College. He is passionate about facilitating difficult conversations and education that addresses the complexities of intimacy.
Pearl McAndrews
Pearl has worked in sexuality and wellness education for six years, both peer-to-peer and now as the peer education specialist at the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
Rachel Ginocchio, MPH
Rachel holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health and has worked in reproductive health and sexuality education for over a dozen years.
Rachel Kaplan, MPH
Rachel Kaplan provides training on disability inclusion and accessibility. She has 15 years of experience with disability advocacy, program development, and sexual health and sexual assault advocacy.
Rebecca Karpinski, MA
Rebecca is the co-founder and operational leader of the Sex Ed To-Go program.
Rena Dixon, PhD, MPH, MCHES®
Dr. Dixon has spent over 15 years in sexuality education across the southeastern United States. She has experience as a facilitator and technical assistance provider.
Renée Volny Darko, DO, MBA
Featured Speaker
Dr. Renée Volny Darko completed her medical education at Kansas City University and residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at UMDNJ (Rutgers University) Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She graduated as a fellow in health policy leadership from the Morehouse School of Medicine focused on reproductive health in immigrant populations and participates in annual medical missions to Ghana. Dr. Darko is also the founder of Pre-med Strategies, Inc. in which she helps underrepresented students apply to medical school and co-host of the funny and entertaining Docs Outside the Box podcast alongside her husband who is a trauma surgeon.
Sahory Valdez Torres, BASW
Sahory is a dedicated sexual health educator empowering Spanish-speaking teens with equity, equality, and informed choices for their sexual well-being through comprehensive and culturally sensitive education.
Sam Akers, MSW
Sam has experience promoting youth engagement and youth-friendly services and facilitating comprehensive sex education programs. Sam is also a national trainer of evidenced-based curricula.
Sam Casanova, MAT
Casanova is an advanced sexual health educator who facilitates and designs curricula rooted in pleasure and affirmation while centering the experiences of marginalized communities.
Sara Smith-Paez, CVA
Sara has nine years of professional experience in gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response. Sara oversees GBV peer education groups, emphasizing sexual empowerment as a key component.
Sarah Dahlston, MS, CHES®, CSE
Sarah is the senior director of education at Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio. Sarah is a certified health education specialist and a certified sexuality educator.
Sarah Scott, MPH, CPH
Sarah is a research assistant for the Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and studies relationship violence.
Shannon Criniti, PhD, MPH
Dr. Criniti is vice president of strategic initiatives at AccessMatters and has over 25 years’ experience managing sexual and reproductive health programming at nonprofits.
Sharon Hoefer, MSSW
Sharon is a senior project manager at the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing, focused on adolescent sexual health and violence prevention.
Shayne Judge, MPH, CHES®
Shayne serves as the youth development manager for Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey. She has dedicated her career to advocating for comprehensive and inclusive sex education for all.
Shelly Stover, MA
Shelly has her master’s degree in psychology and is an associate MFT and associate PCC registration applicant. She’s becoming a coach, sex educator and therapist in Los Angeles after working as an actress, writer, childbirth educator, and doula.
Sophia Washburn
Sophia is the youth development and education specialist for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. She facilitates the teen peer educator group in Providence, Rhode Island.
Stacy Robustelli, PhD
Dr. Robustelli is the director of education at HITOPS, Inc. She co-created the ABC’s program, which uses a systemic approach to educating and supporting youth.
Stephanie Cordo, EdD
Featured Speaker
Dr. Cordo is an educational leader dedicated to building socially just sexuality education programs where students receive affirming, anti-racist, inclusive, and sex-positive messages.
Susan Wright, MA
Susan Wright is the founder and spokesperson for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom and is a researcher and writer.
Sydney Cole
Sydney is currently a student at Florida State University studying sociology and English. She works doing research for the Center for Biological Diversity.
Takeata King Pang
Takeata King Pang has 20 years’ experience in politics and advocacy, empowering women and girls as the executive director of Women’s Foundation of Florida.
Tammy Bartasavich, MA
Tammy is a project officer at the Office of Population Affairs. She has spent the past 20 years working in adolescent health, specifically teen pregnancy prevention.
Tanya M. Bass, PhD, MEd, MS, CHES®, CSE
Dr. Bass is the Founder of the North Carolina Sexual Health Conference and author of a forthcoming guidebook on addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in sex education.
Tara Norman
Featured Speaker
Tara Norman (she/her) is the Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity for Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey. As a people-focused professional, Tara is passionate about aligning with missions that advocate for and serve communities of color. Her commitment is to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are meaningfully reflected in organizational culture, legislation, advocacy, and healthcare delivery.
Tara takes great pride in ensuring everyone receives the necessary resources to lead healthy and empowered lives. She is a devoted advocate, educator, and leader in the fight to disrupt systemic barriers and improve health outcomes.
Tazmine Weisgerber, CHES®
Taz has worked as an educator and trainer. She is also on the advisory board for the New Jersey Public Education Coalition, an advocacy group working to protect our schools.
Tess Zachary
Tess Zachary the Chairperson for the National Coalition for Sexual freedom. Tess is an activist and advocate for sexual freedom.
Xaelah Jarrett (she/her)
Xaelah is a Black trans womanist. Xaelah’s interests include public health, queer and trans liberation, cultural and intergenerational trauma, youth empowerment, and critically engaging with love and intimacy.