The Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) was developed following the implementation of the Strategic Planning Task Force (SPTF). The SPTF was convened in 2017 by Past President, Debby Herbenick, chaired by Eli Green. and members included the then President (Susan Stiritz), Secretary (Melissa Novak)  Executive Director (Kellie Braband), Outreach Chair (Tameca Harris-Jackson), and then President-Elect (Chris Fariello). 

On May 29, 2020, the SPTF presented, and the board approved, the developed strategic plan, following several meetings, Zoom calls and after reviewing much data collected from members to support the development of the strategic plan. The Strategic Planning Committee was formed and implemented by Chris Fariello on July 1, 2020 with Eli Green and Tameca Harris-Jackson appointed as inaugural co-chairs.

As of June 1, 2021, the following people have joined the Strategic Planning Committee to help oversee Working Groups volunteers, who are examining the challenges/opportunities AASECT has to grow and creating proposals for implementation.

Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) Co-Chairs

Eli R. Green, PhD, CSE, CSES

Dr. Green (he/him/his) is a formally trained educator with over 20 years of experience facilitating transgender-related content for cisgender audiences. He has helped thousands of people have a stronger understanding of what it means to be transgender, how to be effective allies, and how to provide crucial support and affirming services to help transgender and non-binary people survive and thrive in today’s world.  Dr. Green is the founder of The Transgender Training Institute (TTI) and co-author of The Teaching Transgender Toolkit, and he specializes in helping fellow educators expand skills and build capacity for implementing high-quality transgender trainings through TTI’s Training of Trainers (TOT) courses and virtual supervision for TTI TOT alums and sexuality educators.  His work has been honored by the Society for the Study of Psychological Issues (SPSSI), LGBTQ division of the American Psychological Association (APA – Div 44), and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).  He is a certified sexuality educator supervisor, co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, and a former AASECT board member (2016-2020).

Tameca N Harris-Jackson, PhD, LCSW, CSE

Dr. Tameca Harris-Jackson (She/Her/Hers) provides sex therapy, sexuality education, and mental health services for women and persons in relationships. She received her Bachelor's degree in Counseling from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, where she also minored in Women's Studies. She received her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and received her PhD in Human Sexuality Education from Widener University in Chester, PA. She is nationally certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) as a Sexuality Educator and has worked for over 20 years providing individual, couples, family and sex therapy. She is the founder and director of Hope & Serenity Health Services, a holistic women's mental health agency in Central Florida. She also serves as a part-time instructor for various universities teaching social work and sexuality courses.

Goal 1 (DEI)  Co-Leads

Tanya Bass, PhD, MS, MEd (CHES)

Dr. Tanya Bass (she/her/hers) is the founder of the North Carolina Sexual Health Conference (NCSEXCON). She is an award-winning sexuality educator and subject matter expert in sexuality education, reproductive health, and health equity. Dr. Bass has been the recipient of AASECT's Sexuality Educator of the Year Award (2020), the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Program in Human Sexuality (PHS): 50 Distinguished Sexual and Gender Health Revolutionary Award (2021),  as well as the Konstance McCaffree Community Service Leadership Award (2018) and the William R. Stayton Award Applied Leadership in Human Sexuality Award (2021) from Widener's Center for Human Sexuality Studies. Tanya is an alumna of North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Department of Public Health Education, where she continues to serve as an adjunct instructor since 2004. At NCCU, she is the lead instructor for Human Sexuality. She completed her PhD in Education at Widener University in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies.  She is a member of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN), the Association of Black Sexologist 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). She is a member of the editorial board for the American Journal of Sexuality Education. Tanya is also lead faculty for Sexuality Education for the newly created Emory University Sexual Health Certificate Program (SHCP) launching in 2022. In her spare time she enjoys jewelry making and scrapbooking.

Jayleen Galarza, Ph.D, LCSW, MEd

Dr. Jayleen Galarza (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania and an Associate Professor within the Social Work department at Shippensburg University.  She is also a certified sex therapist through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). She completed her PhD in Human Sexuality at Widener University with a focus on exploring the intersections of queer, Latina identities and experiences. Dr. Galarza's research and practice is firmly rooted in her passion for sexuality social justice and areas of interest include: intersectionality, Latinx sexuality, sexual/gender identities and experiences, narrative therapy, and feminist therapy. She is also co-editor of Taking Sides: Clashing Views of Human Sexuality.

Goal 2 (Certification) Co-Leads

Renée Burwell, LCSW, MPA

Renée Burwell, LCSW, MPA, CST is a skilled psychotherapist and educator with specializations in sex therapy and trauma.  Her practice, Pandora's Awakening, offers services and educational outreach that help destigmatize mental and sexual health services.  She is a skilled facilitator offering trainings and workshops to healthcare and social services professionals on mental health, sexual health, and reproductive justice.  In addition to her work at Pandora's Awakening, she is also the executive director of the Tennessee Alliance of Sexual Health, AASECT’s Mid-Continent Representative, an active member of the Association of Black Sexologist, and is a writer and educator for various mediums including Bedroom Kandi and CNN.

She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College, a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, a Post Graduate Certificate in Sex Therapy and Education from the University of Michigan, and is AASECT certified as a sex therapist.

Aleece Fosnight, MSPAS, PA-C

Aleece Fosnight has been a physician assistant for the past 10 years and has been a sexual health counselor and educator for almost 6 years.  Aleece opened up her own private practice June 2020, Fosnight Center for Sexual Health, in Asheville, NC. She is a provider of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, basic urologic care, and gynecological care for Western North Carolina and the Southeast.

Aleece provides all-inclusive urologic care to all generations. Her interests include pelvic floor dysfunction, biofeedback, urinary incontinence, urodynamics, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, low libido, interstitial cystitis, menopause, female sexual health, low testosterone and erectile dysfunction.  She is also a nationally certified sexual health counselor and educator, providing sexual health education, information and personalized counseling to patients of all ages.

Mark Levand, PhD, MA, MEd CSE

Mark Levand, PhD, CSE (he/him) is a sexuality educator and researcher, and the newly appointed chair of AASECT's Education Certification Committee.  Dr. Levand teaches about education methods for sexuality educators in Widener University's Center for Human Sexuality Studies as well as the University of Michigan's Sexual Health Certificate Program.  In addition to the Education Certification Committee, he holds positions on AASECT's Advocacy committee and the Continuing Education Committee for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS).  Dr. Levand has been the recipient of AASECT's Student Paper Award (2015) and Shiller Prize (2016) as well as the Patricia Barthalow Koch Award for Research Publication in Sexuality (2021) from Widener's Center for Human Sexuality Studies.  Aside from AASECT and SSSS, he is a member of a variety of professional organizations including the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), Society for Christian Ethics (SCE), and the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA).

Goal 3 (Member Benefits) Co-Leads

Janet Brito, PhD, PSY, LCSW, CSTS

Janet Brito is an AASECT-certified sex therapist & supervisor who also has a license in clinical psychology and social work. She is a graduate of Pacifica Graduate Institute and completed her postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Minnesota Medical School, one of only a few university programs in the world dedicated to sexuality training. Currently, she’s based in Honolulu, Hawaii and is the founder of the Hawaii Center for Sexual and Relationship Health a group practice that specializes in the areas of relationship and sex therapy, out of control sexual behavior, and gender and sexually diverse populations and The Sexual Health School, an online AASECT and APA approved training program. Dr. Brito has been featured on many outlets, including The Oprah Magazine, The Huffington Post, Playboy, Healthline, Women’s Health Magazine,Thrive Global, and Bustle. Her dissertation A phenomenological analysis on infertility in Mexican women living in the United States was published in the Revista Interamericana de Psicologia/Interamerican Journal of Psychology. Reach out to her through her website or on Instagram.

Catherine Dukes, PhD, LCSW

Dr. Catherine Dukes is a sex therapist, psychotherapist and professional trainer in private practice in Newark, DE.  An experienced senior leader and advocate, she led Planned Parenthood of Delaware's 'Sexuality Education Training Institute' from 2006-2019, building it into Delaware's largest sex education program with the department and its staff earning several national sex education awards. She lives in Newark Delaware with her kids, her music, and her kittens "Storm" and "Trooper."

Goal 4 (Member Engagement) Co-Leads

Shavon Gaddy-Dalrymple, LMSW

Mrs. Gaddy-Dalrymple (she, her, hers) is a NY-based psychotherapist that provides strength-based individual, couple and group therapy in private practice with the Manhattan Alternative Wellness Collective. She uses treatment modalities such as CBT, DBT, Art Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Structural Couple/Family Therapy, etc. to those outside and within the LGBTQ/QI 2-S+ spectrum, GNC/Non-Binary, and BDSM/Kink community. Mrs. Gaddy-Dalrymple has 15+ years of experience working and providing different forms of therapy for individuals who have been labeled and diagnosed as Differently-Abled/Special Needs/ASD/Neuroatypical or with an Intellectual and Emotional Disability. Throughout her professional work and through various personal experiences she found it important and necessary to provide a safe, therapeutic treatment space for those clietnts who need to vent and heal from racial and ethnic injustice, anti-blackness, the generational effects of colonization, perceived white supremacy, anti-fatness/ fat-phobia, toxic masculinity, cis-heteronormativity, and the patriarchy. In continuing the work towards dismantling anti-blackness, Mrs. Gaddy-Dalrymple facilitated a process group for white folx entitled “Personal Reflections on your “Whiteness” De-centering the person you see in the mirror”. Most recently, she was quoted in an article on Allure.com entitled “Even the Worst Year Ever Was No Match for the Sexual Wellness Industry”.

Rachael Gibson, PhD, MPH, MS, MEd

Rachael E. Gibson, PhD, MPH, MS, MEd is a Health and Sexuality Educator, teacher trainer, instructional coach, and consultant with over 20 years of experience in the field.  She is based in New York City and South Africa and has taught comprehensive sexuality education all over the U.S. and the world.  She holds a variety of workshops for educators, administrators, parents, youth, and activists.  In addition, she is an adjunct professor.  Dr. Gibson's research examines the interactions between teacher and learner identities. Her most current work titled Learner experiences of teacher gender: Associations among gender and comfort in the sexuality education classroom, offers recommendation for pre- and in-service teacher training that includes strategies for meeting the perceptions of students in affective and culturally responsive ways. Dr. Gibson holds a B.S. in Health Science from the University of Arizona, an MPH from California State University, Long Beach and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the City College of New York.  In her free time, she is an avid hiker, dancer, and traveler.

Goal 5 (Leadership) Lead

Chris Fariello, PhD, MA, LMFT, CSE, CST, CSTS

Dr. Chris Fariello is the Founder and Director of the Philadelphia Institute for Individual, Relational & Sex Therapy (PhIIRST). He has 30+ years of experience as an educator, trainer, public speaker, writer, and therapist. He holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Drexel University, a Master’s degree in Human Sexuality Education from NYU and a doctorate in Human Sexuality from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an AAMFT approved Supervisor. He is also certified as an AASECT Sexuality Educator, Sex Therapist and Supervisor. He has served on numerous boards, including several terms for the Pennsylvania Association for Marriage and Family Therapy for which he was President. He is recognized nationally as a relationship and sexuality expert and has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC and talk shows. He has contributed to several videos and books and has written two books including The Lover’s Guide Encyclopedia. He has presented many times at AASECT and SSSS conferences and adjunct teaches at various universities.  He currently serves as the President of AASECT.

Goal 6 (Finance) Co-Leads

Christopher Belous, PhD, LMFT, CST, CSE

Dr. Belous (he/him/his) is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Couple and Family Therapy Center 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 the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, and the American Journal of Family Therapy. His research focuses on sex and sexuality (broadly defined), social justice, and couple and family therapy education and supervision. As of today 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.

Cheryl Walker

Cheryl Walker is a sex therapist and licensed associate counselor. She is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, but currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her B.S. in marketing from Hampton University in 2000 and her M.A. in clinical mental health and counseling from Argosy University in 2019. She has been trained in EMDR and CBT and is currently pursuing sex therapy certification. She is a co-moderator of Sexual Wellness In Counseling (SWIC), an interest network within the American Counseling Association (ACA). Her role entails dissemination of information related to sexual wellness as well as authoring various blogs. She also leads a psychoeducational experience, Hotel Sex Talk, affording her the opportunity to facilitate growth, communication, and understanding of human sexuality in an informal and safe space among folks from a myriad of cultures. Cheryl works in private practice with clients at GlobeCoRe Psychological and Global Consulting Inc. with the goal of expanding on her innate appreciation of the human spirit. While in this organization, she has enriched the lives of individuals and couples who struggle with finding their sexual voice. She has contributed to several publications and is currently a 2021-2022 cohort in the Sexual Health Certificate Program at the University of Michigan. Her interests include reading, sports, traveling, and exploring restaurants throughout the city. She currently resides with her husband and their four daughters.

Ad Hoc: Melissa Novack, MSW, LCSW, CST, CSTS

Melissa Novak is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor 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 yearlong fellowship program at the Depression and Anxiety Specialty Clinic, 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 University of Chicago’s Social Service Administration program where she teaches Human Sexuality Across the Lifespan and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. She practices in both Chicago, IL and Atlanta, GA.