Board of Directors
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, our Board makes sure the association is well-managed and follows the law. They are responsible for protecting the organization's finances and making big-picture decisions that benefit all members.
Karen Beale, PhD
President, 2025-2027
Karen has been a member of SSSS since 2012 when she attended her first SSSS conference and she has attended almost every year since. She has served SSSS through various positions including the Continuing Education Committee, the Awards and Grants Committee, and the Nominations and Elections Committee. Karen is currently a Professor of Psychology at Maryville College and has been teaching and doing research at this small, private, religiously affiliated, liberal-arts college in East Tennessee for almost 20 years. This position and location (the Bible belt) have given her the unique opportunity to study the connections between religion and sexuality and specifically the predictors and outcomes of sex guilt and shame.
Her research is also informed by her various service positions at the college as well as in the local community, including but not limited to, being co-director of the Appalachian College Association Teaching and Learning Summer Institute, serving as President of the Board of Haven House Domestic Violence Shelter, providing consultation for sex educators in the local public schools, leading travel courses studying sexuality in the Netherlands, and teaching personalized, biographical, inclusive sex education in the community. Since obtaining her PhD in Developmental Psychology, she has gained multiple certifications in the field of sexuality, including AASECT certification as a sex educator and she now serves on the AASECT Sex Education Certification Committee. Because she now has a deep understanding of the complicated and conflicting messages people receive in public schools, churches, and homes about sex/sexuality, she is committed to finding ways to getting scientifically based, sex/sexuality education to those who need it, in a way that they can hear it.
Myeshia Price, PhD
President-Elect, 2027-2029
Myeshia is a developmental psychologist and Associate Professor of Human Development at Indiana University, as well as an Associate Research Scientist at the Kinsey Institute. Previously, they served as Director of Research Science at The Trevor Project, a leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people.
Their research broadly examines gender and sexual development, with a current focus on the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. Using intersectional, strength-based, and protective factors frameworks, Dr. Price studies how individual and structural contexts shape resilience and well-being across development. Committed to research translation and public impact, they actively collaborate with nonprofit organizations to inform programs, policy, and practice affecting young people.
Prior to this work, Dr. Price researched early sexual debut in the United States and was a Sexual Health Scholar with the Center of Excellence for Sexual Health at Morehouse School of Medicine as part of its Community Leadership Program. This experience helped shape their long-standing commitment to community-engaged research and effective partnerships between academic and applied settings.
Dr. Price brings both professional and lived experience to their scholarship, informing an approach grounded in equity, inclusion, and real-world relevance.
Dennis Li, PhD, MPH
Membership Chair, 2024-2026
Dennis (he/him) is an assistant professor at Northwestern University in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing.
He is a community-engaged implementation scientist whose work primarily aims to improve equitable delivery of and access to HIV prevention, treatment, and supportive services to help end the HIV epidemic in the US. Focusing on individuals with complex needs as well as LGBTQ+ communities, his current projects include a citywide implementation of low-barrier, walk-in HIV care for those with highest needs and implementation of various digital HIV interventions for sexual minority young people. He also develops resources to support researchers and practitioners’ learning about implementation science as part of the national HIV Implementation Science Coordination Initiative.
In addition to being Membership Chair on the SSSS Board, Dennis chairs the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Committee in the Maternal and Child Health Section of the American Public Health Association. He is deeply committed to the speedy translation of research to practice and the use of practice to drive research.
Sasha Canan, PhD
Treasurer, 2023-2026
Sasha is an assistant professor in the Public Health Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she coordinates the Sexuality Education and Attitudes Lab. Her research work focuses on sexual assault and LGBTQ+ health using mixed-method techniques.
She has been a member of SSSS for over a decade, attending every conference since 2012. She’s been active with the organization starting as a student ambassador (one year), then serving on the membership committee (two years), as well as later being a student involvement co-chair (four years). The latter role allowed her to serve on SSSS’ Board of Directors for two years. As well as serving in a mentorship role in SSSS’ mentor/mentee program, she is now the organization’s Treasurer.
Rose Grace Grose, PhD
Secretary, 2024-2026
Rose (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Community Health Education in the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Northern Colorado. She earned her PhD in Social Psychology with an emphasis in Feminist Studies from UC Santa Cruz, is a certified sex educator, and completed postdoctoral training at Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine.
Dr. Grose’s work uses research to inform policy and evidence-based programs that reduce sexual health disparities and promote gender equity. Her expertise includes mixed-methods research, social determinants and structural influences on sexual health, and evaluation of community-based programs with local partners. In the classroom, she emphasizes connections between social context, relationships, and individual health behavior. Dr. Grose is deeply committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Brianna Akers, BA
Senior Student Representative, 2025-2027
Member-at-Large, 2025-2027
Brianna (she/her) is a Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Indiana University under the mentorship of Dr. Zoë Peterson.
Her research interests include investigating how identity status, particularly being from a marginalized or vulnerable group, can impact the experience of sexual assault and decreasing sexual assault perpetration through educational initiatives. She believes researchers need to do a better job of highlighting the lived experiences of individuals from diverse backgrounds and strives to uphold this value in her own research. She has explored the prevalence of sexual assault and mental health outcomes for members of the Deaf community, in the military, and continues to do so in her current research on individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Val Wongsomboon, PhD
Member-at-Large, 2024-2026
Val is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Florida State University and a faculty affiliate at the Kinsey Institute. She is actively engaged in sexuality research, serving as a Consulting Editor for The Journal of Sex Research, regularly reviewing for multiple sexuality-focused journals, and participating in grant review committees focused on gender, sex, and sexuality.
Her research examines the intersections of stigma and sexuality, with a focus on sexual health and well-being in stigmatized contexts and among marginalized populations. Beyond research, she is deeply committed to mentorship and service, with the goal of supporting and expanding pathways for scholars from underrepresented backgrounds
G. Nic Rider, PhD
Member-at-Large, 2024-2026
Nic (they/them) is an associate professor, a licensed psychologist, and the Adult Gender Services Coordinator at the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health (ISGH). They are also the Director of the National Center for Gender Health. Dr. Rider's research broadly focuses on improving healthcare for and exploring resilience among marginalized communities, with a focus on sexual and gender diverse people of color.
They often focus on social and structural factors affecting the lived experiences of historically excluded communities and resilience/strengths identified by these communities. Dr. Rider's clinical training includes psychotherapy and assessment experiences in a university counseling center, hospital settings, private practice, community clinic, residential treatment, and juvenile justice settings. Their professional interests are in the areas of intersectionality, improving various health disparities, sexual health and pleasure, decolonizing healing justice, systems change and social justice advocacy.
They served as the past Co-Chair for the Asian American Psychological Association's Division on LGBTQQ and participate on committees advocating for queer and trans individuals globally. Dr. Rider received a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Karen John, PhD, MS, BS
Member-at-Large, 2024-2026
Karen is a native New Yorker, born in the Bronx, whose personal and professional work is grounded in a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and humanism. Shaped by a multigenerational and multicultural family history rooted in the Caribbean and Africa, in addition to early models of acceptance from her great- and grandparents, Dr. John developed a strong voice centered on equality, openness, and social responsibility.
An educator, developmental psychology researcher, and humanitarian, Dr. John focuses her scholarly work on contextualizing the consequences of marginalization and the disparities that result from systemic inequities. Her more recent research centered around sexuality examining resilience, intimacy, and well-being. Her broader interests include the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality through a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion lens, and how these dynamics are reflected in policy and politics.
Dr. John has been an active member of The Society since 2021 as a student and currently serves on the B-REDI (formerly JEDI) Committee and the Race & Sexuality Special Interest Group. Beyond the classroom, she extends her humanitarian work through mentorship and charitable organizations. She is committed to contributing to a more humane and inclusive future for generations to come.
Humberto López Castillo, MD, PhD, CPH, CMI
Member-at-Large, 2025-2027
Humberto (he/him) is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida, with joint appointments spanning public health, nursing, medicine, and health equity. Born and trained in Panama, he earned his MD and completed a pediatrics residency at the University of Panama and the Pediatric Specialties Hospital. He holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of South Florida, master’s degrees in Pediatric Clinical Sciences and Postsecondary Education, and certifications in Public Health (CPH) and Medical Interpretation (CMI–Spanish).
Dr. López Castillo’s research examines the biobehavioral determinants of cardiometabolic health among adults living with HIV, with particular attention to sexual minority populations. His work explores the intersections of minority stress, metabolic syndrome components, HIV and antiretroviral therapy exposure, and behavioral risk, using mixed-methods and translational approaches in U.S. and Latin American settings.
He leads the UCF Sexual and Reproductive Health Collaborative, founded The Sex Café Podcast, and serves as Senior Associate Editor for Annals of LGBTQ Population and Public Health.
Dr. López Castillo is committed to mentoring first-generation and underrepresented students and to community-engaged advocacy with Latinx and LGBTQ+ populations, emphasizing equity, inclusion, and real-world public health impact.
Hannah Javidi, PhD
Member-at-Large, 2025-2027
Hannah is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at North Carolina A&T State University, specializing in adolescent sexual health research and education. She earned her PhD in Applied Social and Community Psychology from North Carolina State University and completed a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Indiana University School of Public Health–Bloomington.
Since 2018, Dr. Javidi has conducted behavioral research focused on promoting healthy sexual beliefs, consent, and communication among adolescents and young adults, particularly those historically underserved by traditional sex education, including rural youth and LGBTQ+ teens. Her work emphasizes community-engaged approaches to designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative sexual health interventions.
Dr. Javidi is the developer of PACT (Promoting Affirmative Consent among Teens), a brief digital education program shown to improve adolescents’ consent knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy in a trial with more than 800 participants. With support from an NIH K99/R00 award, she is expanding PACT to include condom negotiation skills and tailored content for GBQ+ teen boys.
Dr. Javidi has published 25 peer-reviewed articles and a book chapter, and her work on PACT was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list (2025, Healthcare). She is committed to translating research into accessible, evidence-based, sex-positive education and shares public-facing content through her @Understanding_Consent Instagram platform.
Staff
Our dedicated staff serves as the bridge between the Board’s vision and the everyday needs of our diverse community. By professionally managing our programs and providing nurturing support to every member, they ensure our collective work creates a meaningful and lasting impact.
James Laidler
Executive Director
James Laidler (he/him) is a transformative leader whose experience bridges storytelling, organizational change, and social impact. He brings to SSSS decades of experience steering high-profile teams through complex challenges; from managing the BBC’s largest-ever relocation as an Executive Producer to advising Fortune 500 companies on operational reinvention.
A British Academy Award-winning former journalist and certified life coach, James has spent his career mobilizing systems and people toward bold goals. At the BBC, he championed diverse on-screen representation as a longtime DEIB board member, a role that cemented his belief in leadership as a force for equity. His work training journalists at Reuters, The New York Times, and beyond reflects his passion for empowering others to excel.
After relocating to the USA, James pivoted to change management consulting, designing scalable solutions for billion-dollar corporations and nonprofits. In 2019, he founded his own coaching company to help queer men lead authentic lives. He is a sexuality science researcher-practitioner and published author.
James holds degrees in physics and multimedia journalism. In his free time, he is an avid quilter and sewist. He lives with his husband in Chicago’s kinkiest neighborhood, Rogers Park, home of the Leather Archives and Museum.
Lisa Cunningham
Membership and Events Manager
Lisa Cunningham (she/her), is a forward-thinking, dedicated professional with a robust background in membership services and event management. In her role, she oversees membership services by collaborating with the Membership Committee to enhance member engagement and satisfaction. She plays a pivotal role in running the SSSS Annual Conference that promotes the exchange of knowledge and fosters community within the field.
With a strong focus on administrative efficiency, Lisa also maintains the website and oversees Continuing Education accreditations, ensuring compliance with provider organizations. Lisa’s expertise extends to designing and facilitating educational programming. Her passion for reproductive justice and commitment to supporting educational initiatives drive her efforts in enhancing the organization's impact within the sexual health community.