2026 Planning Team
Tanya Bass, PhD, MS, MEd, CHES®, CSE
(She/Her/Hers)
About the Founder
Dr. Tanya Bass is the founder of the North Carolina Sexual Health Conference (NCSEXCON). NCSEXCON LLC. is North Carolina’s only conference that provides opportunities for agencies and individuals to share information, strategies, and best practices around sexual health across the lifespan. Her vision for NCSEXCON is to connect professionals and students within the various disciplines of the sexual health profession including but not limited to clinical care, maternal and child health, intimate partner violence, counseling, education, reproductive health and justice, HIV/STDs, LGBTQ healthcare, advocacy, policy development, and overall sexuality from birth to death. With over 20 years of experience, she is a subject matter expert in the field of health education, minority health, pregnancy preventions, HIV/STDs, reproductive health and sexual health. Tanya is a member of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN), the Association of Black Sexologist and Clinicians (ABSC), the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) serving as VP of Membership. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator (CSE). She is a current member of the editorial board for the American Journal of Sexuality Education. Tanya is an alumna of North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Department of Public Health Education, where she has served as an adjunct instructor for the past 15 years. Currently, Tanya is the lead instructor for Human Sexuality. She enjoys planning as well as attending professional development events. Tanya is committed to sexual health equity and professional development.
Alicia Andrews, MEd
(She/Her/Hers)
Alicia Andrews, an Eastern NC native, has coined herself as the Public Health Sexologist. She’s the visionary of BeFree Wellness Education & Consulting, LLC. She creates and implements community education and professional development for all communities, especially rural and other vulnerable communities. Her educational training at NC Central University and Widener University helped shape her into the Public Health-Sexuality Professional she is today. Her 15+ year career includes designing, coordinating, and implementing public and sexual health education theory and evidence-based lessons for communities across the lifespan; creating and facilitating professional development workshops and trainings, and organizing community health programs/events and assisting with planning and coordinating sexuality education and other public health conferences. Alicia believes freedom lies in the power of communication and knowledge, and it is her mission to normalize healthy sexual communication to help eliminate public health and sexual health disparities.
Alicia Andrews, MEd
(She/Her/Hers)
Ashley J. Edwards, MEd, MPA, CHES, based in Maryland, is a dedicated educator and public health professional with certifications and advanced degrees in education, public administration, and public health. She serves as the middle and upper school Human Sexuality educator and upper school wellness coordinator at The Park School of Baltimore, MD. She brings expertise in sexual health, emotional wellness, and community empowerment, drawing on both research-based strategies and hands-on experience in teaching and curriculum development. Ashley’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to creating inclusive, developmentally appropriate learning environments and advancing community well-being through knowledge and advocacy, with the goal of empowering those whose voices are often unheard to stand confidently in their truth.
Carla Mena
(she/her/hers)
Carla A. Mena is the Director of Capacity Building Assistance Operations for the Hands United
Program at the Latino Commission on AIDS. Prior to joining Hands United, Carla worked at Duke
University Hospital, as a bilingual research coordinator working with studies that were both local and
global. Carla has extensive research experience in several fields including hepatitis C, HIV, immigration,
LGBTQ+, childhood obesity prevention, neonatal vaccinations, and sexual and reproductive health.
Carla is a certified Culture Facilitator, Diversity to Belonging Facilitator and Culture Assessor. In
addition, Carla is the founder of Culture X-Factor, LLC, which provides workplace culture assessments to
improve organizational health through in-depth exploration, understanding, and resolution of culture,
leadership, and diversity and inclusion challenges. Culture X-Factor uses coaching and facilitation
techniques in all aspects of their work—never ignoring human factors of performance and improvement.
Cassandra Corrado
(she/her/hers)
Cassandra is a sex educator who works exclusively with college students and other adults to unlearn sexual shame and improve their pleasure. Her work centers LGBTQ+ folks, is gender-expansive, and strives to be inclusive of a wide variety of life experiences. She is particularly focused on helping survivors of interpersonal violence rebuild healthy relationships with sex and sexuality. When she's not teaching or writing, you can find her in her garden tending to her plants and raising Monarch butterflies.
Jamika Lynch
(She/Her/Hers)
Jamika M. Lynch is a Health Educator Supervisor for the Columbus County Department of Public Health. She is skilled at resourcefully adapting and meeting the needs of youth in Columbus County. She specializes in teenage pregnancy prevention. Ms. Lynch is experienced in facilitating sexual/reproductive health education to adolescents. She has held experience in adolescent health education for schools and non-profits in Columbus County for more than eight years. She has worked with thousands of adolescents in Columbus County during her tenure. She has received the 2019 Barbara Huberman Bravery Award from SHIFT NC (Sexual Health Initiatives for Teens) for her success in teenage pregnancy prevention. She has also received the 2019 Rising Star Award from the NC Sexual Health Conference in recognition of her passion leadership, and commitment to sexual health. She just recently has been awarded a Proclamation of Appreciation and Recognition from the Columbus County Board of Commissioners.
Jenny Shealy, LCSW, CST
(She/Her/Hers)
Jenny Shealy, LCSW, CST is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with a psychotherapy practice in Asheville NC. She has a passion for working with people exploring their allosexuality and asexuality, gender identity and relationship structures, like consensual/ethical non-monogamy or polyamory. She supports clients in processing trauma through EMDR. Jenny believes our optimal well-being is reflected in our minds and bodies, the relationships with ourselves and others and our interconnectedness with nature. She also believes in laughter as a super-charged healing tool!
Kevin Harrell, MPH, CHES
(He/Him/His)
Kevin J. Harrell, MPH, is an award-winning public health leader with more than 25 years of experience in public health, health promotion, and sexual health. He earned both a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. Currently, Kevin serves as Preventive Health Director for Wake County Public Health, where he provides leadership for Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, HIV/STD/Hepatitis C Community Health, and Maternal and Child Health programs. His previous roles include Adjunct Professor at North Carolina Central University and Saint Augustine’s University, Director of Health Promotion at Wake Forest University, and Public Health Educator at North Carolina Central University and Duke University. Kevin is recognized for developing an innovative prevention program that received the 2004 U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Innovation in Prevention Award.
Leslie Massicotte, M.Ed
(She/They)
Leslie Massicotte (she/they) is a sexuality educator, writer, and consultant based in Durham, North Carolina. Specializing in K-12 sexuality education, they have worked with students, parents, and schools to launch and facilitate comprehensive sexuality education programs that center student voices and provide access to medically accurate sexual health information in areas where that access is often restricted. Leslie is currently the high school human sexuality instructor at a local Quaker high school and continues to partner with schools and communities–both locally and internationally–to expand this education to all. Leslie writes about sexuality for platforms such as Scarleteen and Lamaze International and has expanded their work by providing sex and birth education to pregnant clients as a certified Lamaze childbirth educator. They have a Master’s of Education in Sexuality Education from Widener University and are a trained Our Whole Lives curriculum facilitator.
Lolita Smith-Moore, MA
(She/Her/Hers)
A graduate of East Carolina University and public health professional with 16 years of experience, Lolita has worked in state government, state and national nonprofits, community-based organizations, and HBCU’s in the areas of chronic disease, maternal and child health, infant mortality, reproductive health, breast cancer, tobacco cessation, and preconception health. Passionate about equipping young people with the tools to safeguard their sexual health, Lolita served as adjunct lecturer teaching Personal Health and Wellness, and co-authored lesson plans, featured in two Center for Sex Ed Publications. Lolita is a member of the NC Society for Public Health Education, Women of Color Sexual Health Network, and Sister Song Reproductive Justice Collective. Lolita currently serves as program manager on a special initiative focused on reducing racial disparities in the rare disease community. Lolita is pursuing a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with future plans to become a Sex Therapist.
Sarah Hoffert, M.Ed
(She/Her/Hers)
Sarah has over 15 years of sexuality education & training experience in VT & NC and currently serves as the Case Manager Interpersonal Violence Specialist at Appalachian State University. She has an MEd, U. of Vermont in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration and an MEd, Widener University in Human Sexuality Studies. Sarah is in the dissertation phase of her PhD in Human Sexuality Studies also at Widener University. Her research interests include twins and sexuality, support for pregnant and parenting teens, and the experiences of student sex workers in higher education. This past spring Sarah joined an international cohort of early career sexuality researchers at the Hunt-Simes Institute at the University of Sydney for a master class on queering the classroom. Please reach out if you’re curious about any of these degree programs or opportunities. Sarah feels pretty dang lucky to be on the NCSEXCON planning team. Cheers friends!
Shemeka Thorpe, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)
Dr. Shemeka Thorpe (she/her) is an award-winning sexuality educator, researcher, and international speaker. Her research focuses on the sexual well-being of Black women through sex-positive frameworks and Black feminisms. Recognized nationally, she was named one of Buzzfeed’s “Top 20 Black Sexologists You Should Follow” and has been featured in outlets including Cosmopolitan, Elite Daily, The New York Times, and Essence. She is the CEO & Visionary of Black Feminist Praxis, a creative and wellness space for Black women to collaborate through the praxis pathways of dreaming, knowing, and being.
Tom Murray, PhD, LMFT, LPCS, CST
(He/Him/His)
Tom Murray, PhD, MBA, is a multi-disciplinary leader at the intersection of clinical mental health, sex and financial therapy, and healthcare operations. An Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Grand View University, he bridges academia with healthcare entrepreneurship. Dr. Murray is an LMFT, LCMHC-Supervisor, AASECT-certified sex therapist supervisor, and Certified Financial Therapist. He owns A Path to Wellness (a specialized sex and couples therapy practice) and Practice Muse, LLC (a clinical management agency). Additionally, he serves as AASECT Treasurer, authored the award-winning book Making Nice with Naughty.
