Annual Awards

2025-2026 AASECT Awards Committee

The AASECT Awards Committee (AC) responsibility is to evaluate and vote upon the nominations received to highlight and celebrate the range of work sexuality professionals are creating.

Please note that:

  • Several awards are exclusive to AASECT Certified members or AASECT members in good standing, and some awards are open to all regardless of AASECT membership.
  • Self-nominations are encouraged.

The nominations deadline and nearly all materials are due by December 31, 2025. The ONLY exception is for subcommittee members to receive physical books, which are accepted through January 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

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Learn More About Each Award

AASECT Book Awards

This award is presented to the author(s) of a book that makes a significant contribution to AASECT’s vision of sexual wellbeing and education, specifically as it applies to children/adolescents (kids) and teens (young adult), and which elevates the standards of the field. The nominated book must be intended for an audience under the age of 18 and have been published within a relatively recent time frame. Nominations include a brief description of why the book is nominated for the award (no more than 250 words). This award is open to all. Each subcommittee member must receive a copy (either hard copy or digital copy) of the book to read/review.

Please note that submitting materials may accrue a cost (i.e. hard copies and shipping). Nominees will be provided with the list of members including mailing address for those who wish to mail a hard copy in the confirmation email.

Nominee/ Author must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Target audience: General audience under 18
Published/produced in: relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award recognizes the author(s) of a book that makes an outstanding contribution to the fields of clinical sexology, sexual health, or sexuality education. To be eligible, the book must be authored by sexuality professionals and specifically written for an audience of other professionals in the field, with the goal of advancing and elevating professional standards. Please include a brief description of why the book is being nominated for the award (no more than 250 words). Each subcommittee member must receive a copy (either hard copy or digital copy) of the book to read/review.

Please note that submitting materials may accrue a cost (i.e. hard copies and shipping).

Nominees will be provided with the list of members including mailing address for those who wish to mail a hard copy in the confirmation email.

Nominee/ Author must be: AASECT members
Target audience: Sexuality Professionals
Published/produced in: relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members): Books must be sent to all subcommittee members for this award subcommittee to be considered. The nominator should reach out to the author and/or publisher to have them send copies to the subcommittee members. Nominations must be submitted, and each subcommittee member must receive a copy of the nominated book

This award is presented to the sexuality professional(s) who authored a book that makes a significant contribution to the general public’s knowledge of sexuality. The nominated book written for a general audience must have been published in relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee. Please include a brief description of why the book is nominated for the award (no more than 250 words). Each subcommittee member must receive a copy (either hard copy or digital copy) of the book to read/review.

Please note that submitting materials may accrue a cost (i.e. hard copies and shipping). Nominees will be provided with the list of members including mailing address for those who wish to mail a hard copy in the confirmation email.

Nominee/ Author must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Target audience: General audience
Published/produced in: relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

Digital Media Awards

This award is for the creator(s)/producer(s) of a web series (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Live, TikTok, etc.) that makes a significant contribution to increasing sex-positive online content and information. The nominated web series can be developed for a professional audience or for a general audience.

Nominee/ Creator of the content must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Published/produced in: relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee
Target audience: General or Sexuality Professional
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award is for the creators of a Podcast that makes a significant contribution to AASECTs vision of sexual wellbeing, education, and which elevates the standards of the field. The nominated Podcast can be developed for a professional or general audience, and must have been produced in relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee. To nominate a Podcast send three linked episodes for review to the committee members along with contact information for the producer and / or creators. Include a brief letter of support at no more than 250 words. Please make sure that the committee can access and view the episodes suggested, or the nomination will not be considered. This award is open to all.

Nominee/ Creator of the content must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Published/produced in: relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee
Target audience: General or Sexuality Professional
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award is for the producer(s) of an explicit or non-explicit film, video, or DVD that makes a significant contribution to AASECT’s vision of sexual health: “AASECT affirms the fundamental value of sexuality as an inherent, essential, and beneficial dimension of being human.” The nominated work will amplify diverse voices while expanding the clinical and educational standards of the sexual health field. The nominated film can be developed for a general or professional audience. It must be produced in relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee. Please make sure that the committee can access and view the links and/or DVDs or the nomination will not be considered. This award is open to all.

Nominee/ Creator of the content must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Published/produced in: relatively recent time frame as noted by the awards committee
Target audience: General or Sexuality Professional
Submission process

AAESCT Awards

This award is presented to a current Sexuality Educator who has made long standing contributions, outstanding achievements, or otherwise had a major impact in one or more areas of sexuality education. Areas of impact may include, but are not limited to: teaching in the community, teaching in higher education, raising public awareness of sexual issues or public advocacy / lobbying policy-makers. The nominee should have (at minimum) 1 letter of support (letter must not be more than 500 words) from folks who are familiar with their work, and must be submitted along with the application for nomination.

Nominee/ Sexuality Educator must be: AASECT member
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members): Letter of support up to 500 words

This award recognizes a sexuality professional whose work is building towards a more sexually liberated world. Nominate your colleagues and friends who are disrupting systems of oppression by raising awareness about and transforming harm, injustice, or inequity in our professions and our world. The AASECT DEI Award celebrates the accomplishments of historically marginalized sexuality professionals enacting real change in our communities. Areas of impact may include, but are not limited to, art, activism, organizing, leadership, education, public advocacy, or media. The nominee should have one letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work. Tell us about sexuality professionals centering disability, racial, gender, and reproductive justice.

Nominee must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award is presented to an AASECT member (educator, counselor, or therapist) who currently has made impactful contributions in the field of sexuality within their first 3 years of stepping into the sexuality field. This may include students as well as recently graduated AASECT members. This award may be considered for any practical or theoretical body of work, including (but not limited to) providing training, retreats, online courses, videos or publishing a paper or book. The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work.

Nominee must be: Early career AASECT member
Nominee must: Hold an AASECT membership and have 3 years or less of sexuality professional experience

The recipient of this award is a highly regarded expert in their field, recognized by their peers as an accomplished and visionary colleague, and a role model for professional and personal ethics, as well as excellence in achievement. This award honors work that includes, but is not limited to, the development and implementation of sexuality education curriculum, clinical programs or other original clinical contributions, scientific research, and media contributions through art, print, radio, television, or the internet. The nominee should submit one letter of support, no more than 500 words, from someone familiar with their work. This award is open to all.

Nominee must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award is presented to a certified AASECT member in good standing who has worked to promote the mission of AASECT, advocating for sexual health through the development and advancement of sexuality education, counseling or therapy. This individual will have served the organization through activities including, but not limited to, recruitment of new members; presentation of a paper or workshop at AASECT meetings; serving on the Board of Directors, a committee or task force; developing publications for or about the organization; assistance in the development of AASECT policy; and representation of AASECT in the public sector. The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work.

Nominee must be: AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award is presented to a group or individual who have contributed to the field of human sexuality through private endeavor, charitable event(s), public awareness campaign, organizing effort, sex-positive educational offering, and / or political platform. Please submit a brief justification for your nomination at no more than 500 words, in addition to relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. The committee will view a maximum of 5 minutes of video documentation, so please cut your media accordingly, or include a time signature to reference for longer submissions. This award is open to all.

Nominee must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award recognizes exceptional creativity in applying integrative and interactive approaches to addressing sexual issues in clinical work with individuals, couples, groups, and/or supervisees across diverse ages, genders, and other identities. Eligible works may include (but are not limited to) practical or theoretical contributions such as trainings, retreats, online courses, videos, or published papers/books that demonstrate a holistic understanding of sexuality. Submissions should reflect a thoughtful integration of physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or spiritual dimensions of sexual experience, as well as relational and/or social contexts.The nominee should have one letter of support, at no more than 500 words, in addition to relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. The committee will view a maximum of 5 minutes of video documentation, so please cut your media accordingly, or include a time signature to reference for longer submissions. This award is open to AASECT Certified Sex Counselors and Therapists.

Target audience: General or Sexuality Professionals
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

This award is given to the best conference abstract proposal demonstrating innovative, pioneering work dealing with group approaches to sexuality education, sexuality counseling or sex therapy. Recipients of the Schiller Prize receive a $500 honorarium (if multiple presenters, the honorarium is split equally).

This award is given to the best student conference abstract proposal demonstrating innovation and leadership potential for the future. The recipient of the Student Paper Award will be presented with free membership in AASECT for the year.

Awards Committee

Co-chairs

Xuan Ho, LMFT, CST

Claudia Johnson, LMFT, CST

Members

Alice Ripberger

Jonathan Grammatico, LCSW

Dorian Head LPC, ACS

Terri Barrios, PhD, LMFT, CST

Kimberly Holloway, Psy.D., CST

Kelly Scherger, PhD, CST

Heather Alberda BA CSE CSES

Marissa Stein, MS, LMHC, CST, NCC

Kelvin Pace, LPC-S, CST-S

Shanna Katz Kattari, PhD, MEd, CSE