Plenary Sessions 2024 - The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

HomePlenary Sessions 2024

Thursday, November 14 at 1:00-2:15 PM (PST)

For Better or Worse: Maintaining Intimacy in a Less-Than-Ideal World

1.0 CE credit hours

Dr. Rhonda Balzarini

Assistant Professor in Psychology
Texas State University &
Research Fellow
Kinsey Institute at Indiana University.

Dr. Balzarini directs The SPARC (Sexual Partnerships and Romantic Connection) Lab at Texas State where she mentors graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in studying the interpersonal processes that enhance and detract from the quality of romantic and sexual relationships. Dr. Balzarini has a strong track record of publications and grant funding for research applying psychological theory and using various methods (i.e., longitudinal, dyadic, experience sampling, experiments) and advanced statistical techniques (i.e., multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling) to understand how couples can maintain sexual and relational satisfaction over time. Her most recent research focuses on how couples can maintain satisfying and passionate relationships and successfully navigate challenges (e.g., during times of conflict and stress, when partners experience impaired mental health). Her research examines such processes with individuals from diverse backgrounds and who are in diverse relationship orientations. In recognition of her research and dedication to mentorship, Dr. Balzarini has been awarded various awards, including the 2023 Relationship Diversity Award from the Kinsey Institute and the 2023 Lester A. Kirkendall Mentorship Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, among others.

Thursday, November 14 at 5:15-6:15 PM (PST)
This session will virtual and streamed in the California Ballroom and be live streamed in the app.
Live Q& A

Will to live: Stories, gestures, and the ethics of being in family

2023 Social Justice / Public Policy Award Recipient
Tushabe wa Tushabe, PhD

Associate Professor, Center for Human Sexuality Studies
Widener University

Tushabe wa Tushabe is an associate professor in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies at Widener University. Tushabe’s research centers decolonial practices with a focus on African indigenous epistemologies, sexualities, and feminist theory. Through processes of remembering, Tushabe takes great interest in the meaning of language to undo erasures of Indigenous humanity and presence in text, narratives, songs, and stories. Tushabe has worked as a Social/Pastoral worker with HIV/AIDS homebound patients and continues to work with LGBTQA+ as a scholar, family member, friend, and an activist behind the scenes. Tushabe’s current research recovers lesbian, bisexual, gay, trans and Intersex subjectivities in family relations in Uganda as a counternarrative to Uganda’s anti-homosexuality draconian laws which erase non-heterosexual sexualities and the people who embody them from narratives of family formations and family relations. Tushabe does not use gender pronouns.

Friday, November 15 at 5:15-6:15 PM (PST)

Building Our SSSS Community: Strong Legacy, Exciting Future.
A conversation with SSSS leadership and members about what's to come!

This plenary builds on a planning report that was commissioned by the SSSS Board of Directors in June 2024. Appointing 14 members to this Strategic Development and Recommendations (SD&R) Team conducted an environmental scan of the field of sexology, and after considerable review, issued a report in October, which was accepted by the SSSS Board of Directors.

The Board and SD&R Team invites attendees to learn about the Report's key findings and recommendations and to explore how the SD&R Team's Report guides us toward building a stronger, more inclusive community within SSSS.

We’ll share the Society’s updated Mission Statement and new Vision Statement as well as the strategies for expanding our membership, and fostering year-round member engagement, leveraging new partnership opportunities and building a more collaborative, supportive environment.

Join us to discuss how we can grow SSSS into a welcoming, sustainable and impactful community that advances our mission and strengthens connections within the field of sexuality.

President Elect Karen Beale, PhD will be moderating the discussion.

Justin Sitron, PhD

Justin (he, him, él) has been a member of SSSS since 2008. During his time in SSSS, he has served on the regional and national boards, as co-chair of two national and one regional conference, and led the former mentor program for several years, which included transforming it into the existing ambassador program in collaboration with Chris White. Justin is associate professor at Widener University in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies, where he was Center Director from 2017-2020 and recently ended his time as associate dean in the College of Health and Human Service Professions. At Widener, he is director of the Interdisciplinary Sexuality Research Collaborative, a research group housed within CHSS, that envisions a world where science is guided by and promotes sexual rights for all, by building community to create and share knowledge that promotes sexual wellbeing. Justin's research and education work focus on helping human service professionals to better understand and serve those they work with when it comes to their sexual wellbeing - especially people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people from other marginalized and oppressed populations. He is a sexologist, interculturalist, educator and facilitator who has more than 20 years of experience working in schools, health care, social services, non-governmental organizations and non-profits, as well as with individual providers seeking to expand their impact and deepen their proficiency in human sexuality. Justin is a queer cisgender man who has his PhD and MEd in human sexuality from Widener University, and certifications as a specialist in sex counseling and sex education from the Sociedad Sexológica de Madrid (Spain). He has his BA in Spanish Language and Literature and BS in Education from Villanova University. Justin is fluent in English and Spanish, and is studying in American Sign Language at the intermediate level. He is currently in his first year of a two-year term as Secretary of the board of the Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research USA, following one year as secretary, fulfilling a previous person's term.

Karen Beale, PhD

Dr. Karen Beale has been an SSSS member since 2012 and has attended nearly every annual conference since. She has contributed through roles on the Continuing Education, Awards and Grants, and Nominations and Elections Committees, as coordinator of the Strategic Development and Recommendations group, and now as president-elect of SSSS. A Professor of Psychology at Maryville College for 19 years, Dr. Beale's work in East Tennessee has allowed her to explore the relationship between religion and sexuality, focusing on sex guilt and shame. Her community service includes co-directing the Appalachian College Association Teaching and Learning Summer Institute, leading the Haven House Domestic Violence Shelter, consulting for local sex education programs, and teaching inclusive sex education. With a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and AASECT certification as a sex educator, she is dedicated to promoting accessible, science-based sex education.

Leo Wilton, Ph.D., MPH

Leo Wilton, Ph.D., MPH, is a Professor in the Department of Human Development at the State University of New York at Binghamton. His research on the HIV epidemic focuses on the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality within the context of macro- and micro-level inequalities in African and African Diaspora communities. His research explores how intersectional inequalities provide a praxis framework for developing culturally-congruent HIV prevention interventions for communities of color. He has served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator on several National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research studies. For The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, he serves on the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) Committee.

James Laidler, BSc (Hons), PgDip

James Laidler is a British Academy Award-winning journalist, certified life coach, consultant, and broadcaster.

Originally from London, James fell in love with Chicago and moved there in June 2016, being given a Green Card as an ‘Alien of Extraordinary Ability’ for being in the top 1% of his field globally.

James spent more than a decade at BBC News, most recently as an Executive Producer of BBC Breakfast - the UK's highest-rated morning show - winning a BAFTA Award in 2015. He has trained and coached journalists across the world, including at Reuters and The New York Times. He was also a member of the BBC's diversity board for five years, championing fair LGBTQ+ representation in the Corporation's output and employment practices.

During his tenure at the BBC he managed several major operations and technology projects, including the biggest relocation of any broadcaster in history. Upon moving to the USA, he was headhunted to become a change management consultant, designing training plans and operational improvement approaches for several billion-dollar companies. He now blends that experience with his journalistic background to provide a holistic coaching and consulting service to clients around the world.

James is an undergraduate of the University of Southampton, where he studied Physics, and a postgraduate of Bournemouth University, where he graduated top of his class studying Multimedia Journalism and was awarded one of 12 BBC News scholarships. He founded Pointerway in 2019, coaching queer men how to lead authentic lives.

In his free time he volunteers as a local historian with Chicago Greeter; is co-organizer of Communaked, the Midwest’s only sex-positive nudist community; and 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.

Saturday, November 16 at 9:00-10:00 AM (PST)
Dragging Resilience: A Queer Approach to Psychological Science with Marginalized Populations
1.0 CE credit hours

Douglas Knutson, DrPH, LHSP, ABPP

Myron Ledbetter/Bob Lemon Counseling Psychology Diversity
Associate Professor
Training Director
Counseling Psychology Program
Oklahoma State University

Douglas Knutson, PhD, LHSP, ABPP, (he/him) is the Myron Ledbetter/Bob Lemon Counseling Psychology Diversity Associate Professor and Training Director in the Counseling Psychology Program at Oklahoma State University. He is a licensed health service psychologist in Oklahoma and is board certified in counseling psychology. Douglas is the director of the Health, Education, and Rural Empowerment (HEaRE) Lab, a consortium of scholars focused on research and advocacy for rural LGBTQ+ people. The lab was recognized for its positive impact on LGBTQ+ health as the recipient of the 2022 AMSA/GLMA LGBTQ Health Achievement Award. He also serves on the APA Committee on Rural Health, as an associate editor with the Journal of Rural Mental Health, and as director of the APA Division 17 Communications and Technology Board. Douglas was the recipient of the 2023 Excellence in Rural Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association (APA), the 2023 Judy E. Hall Early Career Psychologist Award from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, and his book, “Counseling in a Gender Expansive World,” received a 2023 Distinguished Book Award from APA Division 44 Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. His more than 43 published, peer-reviewed journal articles, 6 book chapters, 65 national and international conference presentations, and 43 local and invited talks seek to advance the scholarship on gender-affirming care, rural LGBTQ+ populations, equity in higher education, advocacy, and resistance. His work has been referenced in several news and media outlets such as Stateline, USA Today, and NPR. Douglas is grateful to have worked with outstanding graduate students and scholars at OSU and around the globe, who have played a pivotal role in the accomplishments and contributions listed in this bio.

Saturday, November 16 at 4:45-5:45 PM (PST)

Dr. Heather Tillewein will lead a plenary session, titled, Ethical Questions and Social Challenges in Sex Research.

Heather Tillewein PhD, MCHES

Assistant Professor of Public Health
Austin Peay State University

Dr. Heather Tillewein is an Assistant Professor in Public Health at Austin Peay State University. She also serves on the Executive Committee as Communication's Chair for the LGBTQ Health Caucus for the American Public Health Association. She recently was appointed, by the President and Executive Director of APHA, to serve on the Committee on Women’s Rights for APHA. Dr. Tillewein serves on the Continuing Education Committee, Co-Chair for the Scientific Program, and SIG Leader for Queer Sexualities/ Trans* Experience/ Identity for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. Recently, Dr. Tillewein was appointed to serve on as Co-Chair for the SSSS Scientific Program. She collaborates on several research projects with the Kinsey Institute, SIU School of Medicine, the California Institute of Integral Studies, and others. Dr. Tillewein's research focuses on sexuality, gender identity, sexual health, LGBTQIA+ health, and reproductive health.

Mark Levand, PhD

Director, Graduate Programs
Center for Human Sexuality Studies
Widener

Mark A. Levand (pronounced “Luh-vond”), PhD, (he/him) is an interdisciplinary sexuality researcher, educator, and consultant. He is an associate professor of practice and director of graduate programs at Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies. In his work, Dr. Levand develops deeper understandings at the intersection of research and practice around topics like sexual consent, sexual diversity, and the formation of sexuality professionals. He also explores aspects of sexuality and Catholic theology from both theological and ethical perspectives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology and pastoral ministry from Notre Dame College, a master’s in theology and religious studies from John Carroll University where he focused on ethics and world religions, and a master’s and doctoral degree in human sexuality studies from Widener University. Dr. Levand’s work has been the recipient of awards such as Widener University’s Koch (pronounced ‘coke’) award for Research Publication in Sexuality for his research on sexuality and organizational change in Catholic higher education. He also received AASECT’s Schiller Prize for his joint presentation on Cross-cultural Code Switching for Sexuality Professionals. Dr. Levand is currently on the CE review committee for SSSS, and is the Certification Steering Committee Chair for AASECT.

Dr. Levand is an ad hoc reviewer for several journals in the fields of sexuality and religion and serves on the editorial board for LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal. He was a guest editor for a special issue of the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy on sexuality, spirituality, and religion and is the author of the book Inclusion and Sexuality in Catholic Higher Education: Possibilities for Institutional Change, published by Routledge in 2023. He is also the writer, host, and producer of The Sexual Catholic podcast where he addresses aspects of sexual health and research in the context of Catholic theology in sex-positive ways.

Chloe Goldbach, PhD

Clinical Psychologist
LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative
Arlington, VA

Chloe Goldbach, Ph.D., (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist at the LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative in Arlington, VA. In her role as a clinical psychologist, she specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ young adults in areas that include identity development and exploration, acute and complex trauma, and outpatient disordered eating. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Trauma Resilience and Education Center of Greater Washington, DC, and her predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland Counseling Center. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and M.A. in Psychology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), and her B.A. in Psychology, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Florida. She has organized multiple community-wide events on queer and transgender issues as part of campus and community organizations focusing on LGBTQ+ issues in Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, and the DC Metro Area. She has also taught several courses on LGBTQ+ and workplace diversity issues, and leads a YouTube channel on transgender and nonbinary topics with over 1 million views.

Chloe has published over 15 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, encyclopedia entries, and professional papers, and is co-author of the book Counseling in a Gender Expansive World: Resources to Support Therapeutic Practice. She has delivered over 40 presentations at international, national, and local conferences, training workshops, and professional meetings. Her research focuses on barriers and facilitators to healthcare access for transgender people, experiences of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic, disorded eating in trans populations, and centering the voices and experiences of transgender and nonbinary people in the treatment and conceptualization of gender dysphoria. In addition to her clinical practice and research work, she also enjoys horror movies, video games, hiking, Tarot, and spending time with her cat, Tipsy.

India Thusi, PhD

Professor of Law
Charles L. Whistler Faculty Fellow
Bloomington Maurer School of Law
Senior Scientist
Kinsey Institute for Sex Research

India Thusi is a Professor of Law and Charles L. Whistler Faculty Fellow at Indiana University Bloomington Maurer School of Law and a Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute for Sex Research. Her research adopts an anthropological methodology and examines racial and sexual hierarchies as they relate to policing, criminalization, and human rights. Her articles and essays have been published in the Harvard Law Review, NYU Law Review, California Law Review, Northwestern Law Review, Georgetown Law Journal, Cornell Law Review, amongst others. Her book, Policing Bodies, was published by Stanford University Press and examines the policing of sex work in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her most recent research has focused on sex workers’ experiences under different regulatory approaches to prostitution.