AASECT Conference Program Planning Committee

Neil is a person-centered Marriage and Family Therapist, known for his dedication to education, tenured professional experience, and commitment to community involvement. He graduated from Hope International University with his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2010. Neil’s undergraduate education was in Theatre with an emphasis in Technical Theatre Production from the University of California, Riverside.  His early academic career instilled a passion for the arts and an overall love for all things created in passion.

As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in both Washington, Idaho, and Florida, Neil supports individuals and relationships along their mental/relational/sexual journey. Additionally he is an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University, teaching a Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy course for PhD students. As of early 2024, Neil also operates the Northwest Institute of Intimacy (NWIOI) and enjoys educational programming that helps a variety of professionals with their professional goals to become AASECT certified sex therapists/counselors. 

 Neil’s professional journey includes leadership roles in various healthcare settings, such as CHI Franciscan Health and MultiCare Health Systems, where he managed programs and services related to mental health and adolescent behavioral health. His expertise extends to areas like social services, care management, and development strategy.

 Neil is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, providing specialized care in intimacy, religious trauma and overall sexual health. He received his training/supervision in Sex Therapy from NWIOI. Neil has also trained in EMDR from The Creative Mindfulness Institute, and trained in Gottman Couples Counseling. 

 Beyond his clinical work, Neil has served in several community initiatives including the Key Free Community Clinic board, the Gig Harbor Arts Commission, and Multicare Bridges Center for Grieving Children. In his personal life he is a dedicated spouse and father, and enjoys working in the yard/garden.

Jacqueline Mendez is a bilingual (English-Spanish) and bicultural Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AASECT-certified sex Therapist, and AASECT-certified sex Therapy Supervisor. Licensed in California, she brings over two decades of experience to her transformative work with individuals, couples, and communities. Jacqueline holds Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology and Spiritual Psychology, blending evidence-based practices with spiritual and embodied approaches to healing. Her additional studies in somatic, embodiment, and Tantra practices enrich her holistic and decolonizing framework for care. 

Jacqueline founded the Center for Relationship and Intimacy Well-Being (CRIWB), where she and her team collaborate with a multidisciplinary network of experts, including pelvic floor specialists, doulas, and medical professionals. Her practice specializes in supporting clients through trauma, sexuality, intimacy, and transitions such as perimenopause and menopause, viewing these life changes as opportunities for more profound self-discovery and spiritual transformation. 

Jacqueline is opening A Healing Place, a nonprofit that provides culturally inclusive, trauma-informed, and integrative care for underserved communities. This initiative reflects her commitment to fostering healing and connection beyond the therapy room. 

An experienced trainer and supervisor, Jacqueline offers guidance to therapists and coaches pursuing AASECT certification, emphasizing a somatic, sex-positive, and intersectional lens. She also facilitates programs and support groups, including bicultural and sex-positive spaces for the Latinx community, creating healing conversations around cultural taboos, intimacy, and relational dynamics. 

An experienced trainer and supervisor, Jacqueline provides mentorship to therapists and coaches pursuing AASECT certification, offering guidance grounded in a somatic, sex-positive, and intersectional lens. She has presented at the AASECT Annual Conference, sharing her expertise in holistic, movement, and somatic approaches to sexual health and therapy. Jacqueline also facilitates transformative programs and support groups, including bicultural and sex-positive spaces for the Latine community, creating healing conversations around cultural taboos, intimacy, and relational dynamics. 

Jacqueline is a sought-after speaker and media consultant, contributing to outlets such as Telemundo, Univision, and The New York Times. She is also writing a book exploring the intersections of Latinidad, spirituality, and sexuality. When not working, Jacqueline enjoys the company of her beloved animals, connecting with nature, and embracing life’s sacred moments.

Dr. Yael R. Rosenstock Gonzales (she/her/ella), also known as YaeltheSexGeek, is a coach, educator, international speaker, & researcher in the fields of sex, relationships, intimacy, and identity. Her research centers the nuances of identity and power in topics of sex, consent, desire, pleasure, embodiment, agency, and partnering styles, especially within Latine communities. Currently, she is working with data from her project, Body, Belonging, Race, Fetishization, and Sex: Experiences of Caribbean Hispanas.

Yael is the founder of Kaleidoscope Vibrations, LLC (KV), a company dedicated to supporting exploration and creating spaces for individuals to find community and belonging in their identities, and Sex Positive You, which adds to KV’s work by centering sexual liberation and embodied consent. Through her companies, Yael offers training to universities and the public on cultivating a consent culture and in peer education. She is a certified Erosomatic Touch Practitioner, Authentic Consent Facilitator, and Sex Doula, the author of “An Introguide to a Sex Positive You”, and a Scholars of Sexology 2023 Fellow with the Kinsey Institute.

Yael is a queer, kinky, non-monogamous, neurodivergent Nuyorican. She was born and raised in Queens, New York and now lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As the local ambassador for this  year’s conference, her priority is to involve as many local Puerto Rican sex professionals and community organizations as possible to make sure that AASECT’s presence on our island supports our local community.

Jessica Rivera Vázquez, PsyD (Ella/Elle/She/They) is a bilingual (Español/English), Latine/Proud Boricua, Gender-fluid, and clinical psychology therapist located in Illinois, US. Jessica was born and raised in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. They possess a doctoral and master’s degree in clinical psychology, PsyD, from the Albizu University, San Juan, Puerto Rico. They have been part of the Gender, Sex and Sexual Orientation Committee (CDSGOS) from the Psychology Association of Puerto Rico (APPR) as a member and co-editor of their academic/research journal. Jessica advocated and continues to fight for LGBTQ+/.cuir rights for puertorriqueñes/xs under colonization and discrimination. She has been a co-author in different books: Aportaciones Interdisciplinarias a la Psicología en el Caribe y Latinoamérica: Coloboración y Compromiso Social (2024), Comunidades Trans, Cuir, y No Binaria: Presencia y Resistencia (2023), and LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychological Interventions. A Latine/x perspective (2022). 

They are currently working at Center Focused Therapy LLC, Chicago, Illinois, as a Staff Clinician advocating for Latine/Latinx health, Trans/Queer inclusivity, and transformative social/sexual justice in the city. Her clinical work focuses on integrative-multicultural sex therapy approaches, kinky positivity, trans/non-binary/intersex affirmative interventions, anti-oppression/decolonial lenses, Cuir-Latine body, sex, and culture experiences, existential and life transitions. Jessica is also a co-facilitator of CFT’s Trans Femme processed group.

She is currently serving as the AASECT JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) representative in the AASECT Conference Planning Committee, ensuring that directive members can protect and support multicultural integrity in AASECT’s conference procedures, as well as facilitating the translation and validation of our cultura puertorriqueña. Beyond clinical work, Jessica can be found playing video games, reading comics, watching The Devil Wears Prada, and drinking Cafecito Lareño in her mornings.

Kristen Lilla LCSW, CST-S, CSE-S (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator, and AASECT Certified Supervisor (for both therapists and educators). Kristen is a queer therapist working in private practice and serving clients in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Vermont. She currently serves as the AASECT Mid-Continent Section Leader for the state of Nebraska and holds a position as the Education Auditor for the Conference Committee for the national AASECT organization. Kristen is an international speaker and has spoken at conferences worldwide including the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), National Sex Education Conference (CSE), Bangladesh Sex Therapy Training, and AASECT Annual Conference. 

In 2020, Kristen Lilla won the AASECT Sexuality Educator award and in 2023, won the AASECT Book Award for Children under 18. In addition to their numerous accomplishments Kristen Lilla has published three books; Boxes and How We Fill Them: A Basic Guide to Sexual Awareness, Vaginas and Periods 101: A Pop-Up Book, and Colors of You: Lesson Plans for Teachers and Parents about Sex Education and Identity. She was published in the 4th edition of Unequal Partners: Teaching About Power, Consent, and Healthy Relationships as well as Orientation: Teaching About Identity, Attraction, and Behavior, both published by the Center for Sex Education. Kristen is frequently quoted in articles for prominent websites including Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, and CNN. She loves to travel, drink lattes, and buy slow fashion. 

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.

Dr. Tanya Bass, MS, MEd, PhD, CSE, CHES (she/her/goddess) currently serves as the Vice President of Membership for AASECT. With a deep commitment to advancing the field of sexuality education, she has served as the AASECT Conference Chair and Co-Chair. Tanya has served as the Volunteer Coordinator and conference planning team member since 2018. Dr. Bass is celebrated for her commitment to advancing inclusive and culturally responsive sexuality education. She has authored Representation in Sex Education: Cultivating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. The book explores the crucial role of diverse and inclusive representations in sex education, aiming to enhance cultural competency and support equitable learning environments.

She is the Founder of the NC Sexual Health Conference, the only conference in the state that supports sexuality education across the lifespan for professionals and community members. She is the Clinical Instructor in the Department of Public Health Education at her alma mater NC Central University. She serves as the faculty lead for the Certificate in Sex Education and Social Justice for the Sex Ed Lecture Series/Mercy University.

Eliza Boquin (she/her) is the founder of the Flow & Ease Healing Center, Inc. in Houston, Texas, where she specializes in guiding individuals through the complexities of shame and trauma towards healthier, more pleasure-filled lives. She is also the co-founder of Melanin & Mental Health, LLC, which is deeply dedicated to breaking down barriers to mental wellness in Black/Brown communities. Eliza is passionate about assisting individuals to reclaim their narratives and pursue paths toward healing and liberation. She is committed to fostering safe, affirming, and inclusive spaces where all individuals can thrive.