Board of Directors

Meet our leadership team

The AASECT Board of Directors provides strategic leadership that advances our mission, upholds our values, and strengthens the fields of sexuality education, counseling, and therapy. Our board members bring deep expertise, diverse lived experiences, and a shared commitment to promoting sexual health, sexual rights, and ethical professional standards.

Leadership

Committee Chairs

Leadership

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Lexx Brown Lames

Dr. Lexx Brown-James, PhD, LMFT, CSE, CSES

President

president@aasect.org

Lexx Brown-James, PhD, LMFT, CSE, CSES (She|Her|Dr) is a Black, fat, pansexual, southern, parent. She is one of 3 sexuality educators of color supervisors and has worked on AASECT’s Bylaws, Conference Planning, Certification Task Force, and Board for the past 8 years. As an educator, Lexx guest lectures, and collaborates with organizations to perpetuate shame-free sex education from womb to tomb. Lexx is also an LMFT sex therapist, who runs The Institute for Sexuality & Intimacy, LLC where she primarily supports others to build, create, maintain, and perpetuate intimacy. Lexx also volunteers time as a mentor and colleague in the field to various sexuality professionals. Her passion is to remove obstacles that have kept people from accessing education, experience, position, and pleasure. She hopes to continue to remove obstacles and build more opportunities at AASECT for all.

Shadeen Francis

Shadeen Francis, LMFT, CST

President Elect

presidentelect@aasect.org

Shadeen Francis, LMFT, CST is a licensed psychotherapist whose work centers mental health, emotional intelligence, and the intersection of sexual wellness and social justice. As a Black, queer, non-citizen immigrant, Shadeen recognizes there can be many barriers to accessing care. To that end, she aims to meet people where they are, collaborating with institutions ranging from non-profits to medical facilities, tech companies to homeless shelters. Her insights have been used to develop nationally-implemented curricula, global media strategy, and public health policy.

Shadeen is a regular presence in the media. She has been an expert source for platforms such as ABC, NBC, and CBS, and the subject matter go-to for brands like Playboy, Bumble, and Teen Vogue. She is also an avid writer, having authored several textbook chapters on topics ranging from sexual fluidity to leadership in sex education. What these experiences have in common is her passion for meaningful connection and her belief that the world is built on the strengths of communities. She brings these values to her roles within AASECT.

Tameca N. Harris-Jackson

Tameca N. Harris-Jackson, PhD, LCSW, CSE, CIMHP

Secretary

secretary@aasect.org

Tameca N. Harris-Jackson (she/her/hers), PhD, LCSW, CIMHP is a sex and relationship therapist, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, and the Founder and Director of Hope & Serenity Health Services, a holistic women’s mental health and sexual wellness agency in Central Florida. Tameca began her career in the helping profession over 20 years ago in Virginia, working primarily with youth and single mothers. She received her bachelor’s degree in counseling from Old Dominion University, her master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland-Baltimore, and her PhD in Human Sexuality from Widener University. Her background includes a myriad of experiences, including teaching, researching and developing sexuality and social work courses for various universities, supervising registered interns, volunteering with youth, LGBTQIA+, and DEI-centered programs, and developing and leading international wellness and academic programs.

Juan Camarena

Juan Camarena, PhD, LMFT, LPCC (él, he, him)

Treasurer

treasurer@aasect.org

Juan Camarena (él, he, him) is a Mexican American, Queer Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and certified sex therapist living in San Diego. Juan is also an Assistant Professor at San Diego State University where he teaches multicultural counseling and sex therapy courses. Juan provides bilingual psychotherapy at his independent practice with specialties in Latinx sexuality, BIPOC Queer relationships, and consensual nonmonogamy. Since his first graduate program 20 years ago, Juan has been passionate about social justice and battling systemic inequality in and outside of psychotherapy. After ten years of practice, Juan returned to school and earned a masters and doctorate degree in Human Sexuality from Widener University. Juan has served as AASECT conference co-chair, outreach committee chair, and DEI committee chair. My community service includes volunteering with Trans and Non-binary youth at Camp Laurel summer camp and serving Central American refugees sheltered in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. Lastly, Juan acknowledges and celebrates the elders and ancestors upon whose shoulders he stands and are an important part of his personal and professional identities.

Molly Adler

Molly Adler, LCSW, CST

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)

jedi@aasect.org

Molly Adler (she/her) is a Sex Therapist and Educator with over twenty years of experience specializing in LGBTQIA2S+ wellness and mental health, grounded in racial justice, intersectionality, and collective liberation. She is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and her practice Sex Therapy New Mexico is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Tiwa land.

As a queer, pansexual, polyamorous femme, Molly’s committed to serving clients who are LGBTQIA2S+, BIPOC, anti-racist, activists, non-monogamous, and/or kink identified. She is also passionate about offering continuing education trainings focused on queering therapy, sex after trauma, marginalized sexualities and relationships, anti-oppression practices, and supporting other white people unlearning white supremacy culture.

Molly is the co-owner of Aliso Roots Community Collective, a healing space centering QT & BIPOC communities. She is currently the Board Secretary of the New Mexico Queer & Trans+ Provider Network. Molly co-founded and co-directed Self Serve Toys, New Mexico’s award-winning, sex-positive, health- and education-focused adult shop for its first eight years. She is grateful for New Mexico sunsets, roadrunners, nail polish, and the tenderness and depth she’s found in community organizing.

Tanya Bass

Tanya Bass, PhD, MS, MEd, CHES®, CSE

Vice President of Membership

vpmembership@aasect.org

Tanya Bass, PhD, MS, MEd, CHES®, CSE (she/her/hers) an award-winning sexuality educator and the "Foundress" of the North Carolina Sexual Health Conference (NCSEXCON), a conference that provides opportunities for agencies and individuals to share information, strategies, and best practices around sexual health across the lifespan. Dr. Bass is an alumna of North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Department of Public Health Education, where she has served as an adjunct instructor for several years and is currently the lead instructor for Human Sexuality. She completed her PhD in Education at Widener University in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies.

Dr. Bass remains committed to seeking professional development and is a member of the NC Society for Public Health Educators, the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN), the Association of Black Sexologists and Clinicians (ABSC), and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator (CSE). Tanya is a current member of the editorial board for the American Journal of Sexuality Education.

Committee Chairs

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Mark Levand

Mark Levand, PhD, MA, MEd, CSE, CSE

Chair, Certification Steering Committee

certchair@aasect.org

Mark A. Levand, PhD, MA, MEd, CSE, CSES (he/him) is a sexuality researcher, consultant, and AASECT certified sexuality educator and supervisor. Dr. Levand is currently appointed as an associate professor of practice and director of graduate programs for Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies. He has been a part of AASECT for over 10 years, holding various positions including conference social media manager, educator certification reviewer, chair of the education certification committee, strategic plan working group co-lead, advocacy committee member and now as the certification steering committee chair. Dr. Levand writes on topics of sexual consent, sexuality and Catholicism, and organizational change pertaining to matters of sexuality. He was a guest editor for a special issue of the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy on religion, spirituality, and sexuality, and is the author of the book Inclusion and Sexuality in Catholic Higher Education: Possibilities for Institutional Change (Routledge, 2023).

Stefani Goerlich

Stefani Goerlich, LMSW-C, LISW, LCSW, CS

Chair, Communications Steering Committee

communications@aasect.org

Stefani Goerlich is a Certified Sex Therapist and Clinical Social Worker who specializes in working with gender, sexuality, and relationship differences. The founder of Bound Together Counseling, based in Metro Detroit, Michigan. In addition to her clinical work, Stefani is an instructor at two Universities, where she teaches classes on sexual dysfunction, paraphilias, digital sexuality and social media, and sexual trauma and trauma informed care. She is a popular conference speaker and a frequent voice in media ranging from The New Yorker the BBC to Cosmopolitan and Teen Vogue. Stefani is a Certified Forensic Social Worker who frequently consults on legal cases involving elements of unusual sexual expression and alternative relationships. Stefani is the award-winning author of five books on BDSM/kink and mental health and co-host of the popular Securing Sexuality Podcast and conference. In her free time (what little she has left!) she is a mother, a partner, a collector of tarot decks, a stitcher of snarky cross-stitch, and an active member of her local Jewish community. She is a terrible bowler.

Cheryl D. Walker

Cheryl D. Walker, MA, NCC, LPC, CST

Chair, Outreach Steering Committee

outreach@aasect.org

My name is Cheryl Walker (she/her) and I am a certified sex therapist in Atlanta, GA, the stolen territory of the Muskogee nation. My upbringing and exposure to various cultures and worldviews positioned me to appreciate the intricacies of the human spirit. I attained my bachelor’s degree in marketing from Hampton University and my master’s degree in mental health and counseling from Argosy University. My early years of adulthood were spent relentlessly volunteering while raising my four daughters. And while these things still exist for me, my sex therapist practice has afforded me a profound extension of my altruistic intentions and a constant thirst for knowledge. Aside from raising conscientious and respectful daughters, I am most proud of my work in the communities that I serviced. My efforts include food pantries, meal services, voter registration sites, school and teacher support, disaster emergency services, and financial contributions for grassroot organizations. I currently reside with my husband, two of my daughters, and an extremely entitled cockapoo.

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Eliza G. Boquin, MA, LMFT, CST

Chair, Professional Education Steering Committee (PESC)

pesc@aasect.org

Eliza Boquin (she/her) is the founder of the Flow & Ease Healing Center, Inc. in Houston, Texas, where she specializes in guiding individuals through the complexities of shame and trauma towards healthier, more pleasure-filled lives. She is also the co-founder of Melanin & Mental Health, LLC, which is deeply dedicated to breaking down barriers to mental wellness in Black/Brown communities. Eliza is passionate about assisting individuals to reclaim their narratives and pursue paths toward healing and liberation. She is committed to fostering safe, affirming, and inclusive spaces where all individuals can thrive.