A candidate for the COH Community Health Scientist - LGBTQ+ position is an associate professor in a Department of Global and Community Health, where they serve as director of master’s degree programs and adjunct faculty coordinator. The candidate teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses including health behavior theory, health program planning and evaluation, HIV/STI interventions, and LGBTQ Health. Their research focuses on the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents/young adults and sexual and gender minority populations, particularly the prevention of HIV/STIs and unintended pregnancies. The candidates research has been published in a number of professional journals. Prior to the candidate's present position, they served as a consultant and trainer on an AIDS Training Network, as HIV Coordinator, as scholar advisor and faculty member with the CDC’s Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership, and as co- founder and director of an LGBTQ youth organization in the southeastern United States. The candidate also served as a public health faculty member in other southern universities. They became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) in 2000 and received the Bachelor of Science degree in community health education in 1991 and their Master of Public Health and Doctor of Public Health degrees in health promotion and education in 1993 and 1997, respectively.
 
Research Talk: "Invisible and At-Risk: Sexual Health Concerns of Sexual Minority Women in the U.S."
The sexual health concerns of sexual minority (non-heterosexual) women are rarely discussed in the context of HIV/STI, unintended pregnancy, or sexual assault prevention. This session will provide a brief overview of how young sexual minority women, particularly bisexual and sexually discordant women, are at greatest risk for these health outcomes.