President

Rosalyn Dischiavo, EdD, MA, CSE, CSES
 president@aasect.org
 

Dr. Rosalyn Dischiavo, MA, CSES is an author, public speaker, and the founder and director of Institute for Sex Education & Enlightenment (ISEE), a professional training program for educators, counselors, therapists and clinicians. Rosalyn began as a licensed addictions counselor and then had a private practice for marriage and family therapy for many years. She has a Doctor of Education degree in Human Sexuality, a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator and Sexuality Educator Supervisor. Dischiavo was the Director of both the Women’s Center and the Health Education office at the University of Hartford from 1999-2006. Dr. Dischiavo has been presenting retreats, workshops and lectures on topics related to wellness, spirituality, sex and gender issues for 30 years. A former radio personality, she uses humor and insight to dynamically engage participants in a meaningful and unique dialog about sexuality and other wellness-related topics. Dr. Dischiavo’s book, The Deep Yes: The Lost Art of True Receiving, was published in 2016. Roz lives in Tucson, Arizona with her dog, Peanut and her cat, Abby.

President-Elect

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

Secretary

Melissa Novak, MSW, LCSW, CST, CSTS
 secretary@aasect.org
 

Melissa Novak is a licensed clinical social worker and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST), specializing in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, personality disorders and anxiety-related disorders.  She earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia where she focused her studies on human sexuality and sexual therapy. In 2011, Melissa completed a year-long fellowship program at the Depression and Anxiety Specialty Clinic, which focused on further developing skills within Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other empirically validated approaches. She works with individuals and couples, sex workers and people in the kinky and poly communities. Ms. Novak also serves as a national educator and supervisor and is an adjunct professor for the University of Chicago’s Social Service Administration Program where she teaches Human Sexuality Across the Lifespan and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Her private practice is in Chicago, IL.

Treasurer

Christopher K. Belous, PhD, CSE, CST
 treasurer@aasect.org
 

Dr. Belous (he/him/his) is the current Treasurer of AASECT, and an Associate Professor and the Director of the Couple and Family Therapy graduate program at Purdue University Northwest. Affectionately known as “Dr. B” he is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, Certified Sex Therapist and Educator with the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, a Certified Family Life Educator with the National Council on Family Relations, and a Certified Gay Affirmative Psychotherapist through the California Division of AAMFT. He sits on the editorial board for several journals and is the Clinical Reviews Associate Editor for Sexual and Relationship Therapy. His research focuses on sex and sexuality (broadly defined), social justice, and couple and family therapy education and supervision. He has over 20 published works, 40+ Presentations at Inter/National and Local conferences, and has completed 7 different research grants. His most recent research involves the examination of efficacy and development of approaches to sex therapy and treatment.

Vice President of Membership

Tanya Bass, PhD, MS, MEd, CHES®, CSE
 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.

Chair, Certification Steering Committee

Wendy Haggerty, LMFT, CST
 certchair@aasect.org
 

Wendy Haggerty (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist & Supervisor. Wendy is the founder of Sex and Love Therapy in Connecticut and Florida where she and her team has served the needs of thousands of individuals, couples and partners for many years. She is also a former professor of Family Therapy, Human Sexuality & Systemic Sex Therapy at University of Saint Joseph. Wendy has been an active member and volunteer for AASECT over the last decade, serving in roles with the Conference Committee (reviewer of proposal submissions) and the Certification Committee (former reviewer of CST applications & current CST co-chair).

Chair, Professional Education Steering Committee (PESC)

Roger Kuhn, PhD, LMFT, CST
 PESC@aasect.org
 

Dr. Roger Kuhn is a Poarch Creek Two-Spirit Indigequeer soma-cultural sex therapist and sexuality educator. Roger’s work explores the concepts of decolonizing and unsettling sexuality and focuses on the way culture impacts and informs our bodily experiences. In addition to his work as a licensed psychotherapist, Roger is a faculty lecturer of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University. He is a board member of the American Indian Cultural Center of San Francisco and a community organizer of the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirit powwow.

Chair, Public Relations, Media & Advocacy Steering Committee (PRMA) 

Shadeen Francis, LMFT, CST
 prma@aasect.org 
 

Shadeen Francis (she/her) is a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, graduate professor, and author. Her clinical work focuses on demystifying pleasure, building emotional intelligence, and the intersection between sexual wellness and social justice. Shadeen is a sought-after speaker who has been featured on national media platforms like ABC, NBC, FOX and the New York Times, as well as sharing clinical insights with recognized brands like Cosmopolitan, Playboy, Essence, and Tinder, among others. An avid writer, Shadeen has authored several textbook chapters on topics ranging from sexual fluidity to leadership in education. Known for her signature brand of warmth and humour, Shadeen’s work is always inspired by her commitment to helping people live lives full of peace and pleasure.

Chair, Communications Steering Committee

Colby Agostinelli, LMFT, CST
 communications@aasect.org
 

Colby Agostinelli (they/them) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Graduate Professor and Speaker. Colby is also the Director of Philly Couples & Sex Therapy located in, you guessed it, Philadelphia, PA. Colby’s work centers relational work, kink, non-monogamy, sex work, queerness, gender expansivity, and racial justice. They’re passionate about creating space for radical change and accessibility and bring a warm, intuitive, nuanced approach to all that they do. Connect with them via email or on Instagram @sextherapywithcolby.

Chair, Outreach Steering Committee 

Juan Camarena, PhD, LMFT, LPCC, CST
 outreach@aasect.org 
 

Juan Camarena (el/he/him/his) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Certified Sex Therapist.  Dr. Camarena is an Assistant Professor at San Diego State University, where he teaches and supervises in the Community Based Block Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice Education program. Dr. Camarena also provides psychotherapy at his independent practice where he specializes in working with diverse Latine/x persons and relationships across multiple intersectional identities.

Dr. Camarena earned his Master of Science degree in Counseling from San Diego State University with concentrations in Multicultural Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, and School Counseling. He also earned his Master of Education degree and PhD in the clinical track of Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies. Dr. Camarena is passionate about experiential teaching and learning, social justice-focused research, and combating marginalization via psychotherapy.