Welcome to the 2023 AASECT Awards Page!
We look forward to celebrating this year’s extraordinary award winners virtually on Thursday, May 18 as park of AASECT Spirit Week.
Thank you to all who helped spotlight the peers, mentors, and fellow leaders in the field of sexuality who are making their mark!

2023 Award Recipients
Full award category descriptions are included at the bottom of this page.
AASECT Sexuality Book Award
Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on our Sex-Obsessed Culture!
by Sherronda J. Brown
AASECT Book Award for Children under 18 years old (audience focus)
Vaginas and Periods 101: A Pop-Up Book by Kristen Lilla and Christian Hoeger
You Know, Sex by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth
AASECT Book Award for Sexuality Professionals (professional focus)
Gender Trauma by Alex Iantaffi
AASECT Book Award for General Audience (audience focus)
Whole Body Sex by Melissa Walker
AASECT Audiovisual Award
A Sexplanation
Alex Liu, director/co-writer
Leonardo Neri, co-writer, co-producer
Steven Flynn, producer
AASECT Live Web Series Award (YouTube, Instagram, etc.)
Emily Ochieng
AASECT Podcast Award
Safeword Podcast
Kamil Lewis, co-host
Casey Tanner, co-host
E.T. Townsend, producer
AASECT Award for Integrative Approaches to Sex Therapy
Dr. Estefania Simich Munoz
AASECT Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Juan Camarena
AASECT Award for Emergent Professional (“Rising Star Award”)
Casey Tanner
Service to AASECT Award
Neil “Nelly” Cannon
Humanitarian Award
Alex Iantaffi
AASECT Sexuality Educator Award
Marla Renee Stewart
Book Awards
AASECT Sexuality Book Award (published between 2019 and 2022)
This award is presented to the author(s) of a book that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of human sexuality.
Each committee member must receive a copy of the book to read/review no later than February 14, 2023.
Target audience: General Audience
Authors: This category is open to non-members and other professionals.
Published: between 2019 – 2022
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members):
- Letter of support 250 words or less.
- The nominator should reach out to the author and/or publisher to have them send copies to the subcommittee members.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF
- The book must be sent to all members of this award subcommittee to be considered.
- Nominations must be submitted, and each subcommittee member must receive a copy of the nominated book, by February 14, 2023.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed
AASECT Book Award for Children under 18 years old (audience focus)
This award is presented to the author(s) of a book that makes a significant contribution to AASECT’s vision of sexual wellbeing and education, specifically as it applies to children and adolescents, and which elevates the standards of the field. The nominated book must be intended for an audience under the age of 18 and have been published in 2019-2022. This award is open to all.
Each committee member must receive a copy of the book to read/review no later than February 14, 2023. Addresses are included in the confirmation email.
Target audience: Under 18
Authors: This category is open to non-members and other professionals.
Published: between 2019 – 2022
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members):
- Letter of support 250 words or less.
- The nominator should reach out to the author and/or publisher to have them send copies to the subcommittee members.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF
- The book must be sent to all members of this award subcommittee to be considered.
- Nominations must be submitted, and each subcommittee member must receive a copy of the nominated book, by February 14, 2023.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed
AASECT Book Award for Sexuality Professionals (professional focus)
This award is presented to the author(s) of a book that makes a significant contribution to the field of clinical sexology, sexual health, and/or sexuality education. The nominated book must be written for other sexuality professionals by a sexuality professional(s) and elevate the standards of the field. Please include a brief description of why the book is being nominated of the award (no more than 250 words) . Please contact the author(s) and/or publisher to have the book sent to the subcommittee This award is open to all.
Each committee member must receive a copy of the book to read/review no later than February 14, 2023. Addresses are included in the confirmation email.
Target audience: Sexuality Professionals
Authors: Must be a current AASECT Member
Published: between 2019 – 2022
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members):
- Letter of support 250 words or less.
- The nominator should reach out to the author and/or publisher to have them send copies to the subcommittee members.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF
- The book must be sent to all members of this award subcommittee to be considered.
- Nominations must be submitted, and each subcommittee member must receive a copy of the nominated book, by February 14, 2023.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed
AASECT’s Sexuality Professionals Book Award for General Audience (audience focus)
This award is presented to the sexuality professional(s) who authored a book that makes a significant contribution to the general public’s knowledge of sexuality. The nominated book written for a general audience must have been published between 2019 – 2022. Please include a brief description of why the book is nominated for the award, ( no more than 250 words). Please contact the author(s) and/or publisher to have the book sent to the subcommittee.
Each committee member must receive a copy of the book to read/review no later than February 14, 2023. This award is open to AASECT members and other Sexuality Professionals. Addresses are included in the confirmation email.
Target audience: General Public
Authors: AASECT members, non-members, and other sexuality professionals.
Published: between 2019 – 2022
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members):
- Letter of support 250 words or less.
- The nominator should reach out to the author and/or publisher to have them send copies to the subcommittee members.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF
- The book must be sent to all members of this award subcommittee to be considered.
- Nominations must be submitted, and each subcommittee member must receive a copy of the nominated book, by February 14, 2023.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed
Digital Media Awards
AASECT Social Media / Web Series Award) (YouTube, Instagram, etc.)
This award is for the producer(s) of a web series (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Live, TikTok, etc.) that makes a significant contribution to increasing sex-positive online content and information.
The nominated web series can be developed for a professional audience or for a general audience and must have been produced in 2022.
Each committee member must receive the links to review no later than February 14, 2023. Addresses are included in the confirmation email.
Target audience: General or Professional Audience
Authors: This category is open to non-members and other professions.
Published: 2022
Submission process:
- To nominate a web series, please send at least three (3) links for review to the committee members along with contact information for the producer and/or creators.
- Include a brief description of why the web series is worthy of the award.
- Please make sure that the committee can access and view the entire episodes suggested.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF
AASECT Podcast Award
This award is for the creators of a Podcast that makes a significant contribution to AASECTs vision of sexual wellbeing, education, and which elevates the standards of the field. Nominations are due February 14, 2023.
Target audience: General or professional audience
Authors: This category is open to non-members and other professions.
Published: 2022
Submission process:
- To nominate a Podcast, send three linked episodes for review to the committee members along with contact information for the producer and/or creators.
- Include a brief letter of support at no more than 250 words.
- Please make sure that the committee can access and view the episodes suggested, or the nomination will not be considered.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF.
AASECT Film Award
This award is for the producer(s) of an explicit or non-explicit film, video, or DVD that makes a significant contribution to AASECT’s vision of sexual health: “AASECT affirms the fundamental value of sexuality as an inherent, essential, and beneficial dimension of being human.” The nominated work will amplify diverse voices while expanding the clinical and educational standards of the sexual health field. This award is open to all, must be submitted no later than February 14, 2023 and accompanied by a brief nomination letter.
Target audience: General audience and sexuality professionals
Authors: This category is open to non-members and other professions.
Published: 2021-2022
Submission process:
- Send links or a DVD to each committee member. Addresses will be provided in the nomination confirmation email.
- Please make sure that the committee can access and view the links and/or DVDs or the nomination will not be considered.
- A letter of up to 250 words should also be submitted describing the reason for nomination.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF.
AASECT Awards
AASECT Sexuality Educator Award
This award is presented to a current Sexuality Educator. This award recognizes individuals who have made long-standing contributions, outstanding achievements, or otherwise had a major impact in one or more areas of sexuality education. Areas of impact may include but are not limited to: teaching in the community, teaching in higher education, raising public awareness of sexual issues, or public advocacy/lobbying policy-makers.
Nominations are due February 14, 2023.
Target Audience: Sexuality educators
Requirements: Must be an AASECT member
Submission process:
- The nominee should have (at minimum) 1 letter of support (must not be more than 500 words) from folks who are familiar with their work and must be submitted along with the application for nomination.
- The nominator *may* also provide 1-3 items (documents or media) representing the nominee’s work. Please ensure that this material is provided for subcommittee members with appropriate links (and access credentials if needed) or electronic files (or arranging to have physical items sent by mail).
- Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed.
AASECT Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This award recognizes a sexuality professional whose work is building towards a more sexually liberated world. Areas of impact may include but are not limited to, art, activism, organizing, leadership, education, public advocacy, or media. Nominate your colleagues and friends who are disrupting systems of oppression, raising awareness about harm in our professions and our world, and enacting real change in our communities. Tell us about sexuality professionals centering disability, racial, gender, and reproductive justice. The nominee should have one letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work. Nominations are due February 14, 2023.
Requirements: This category is open to non-members and other professions.
Submission process:
- This award is open to all. The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work.
- Send up to 3 links to resources like the nominee’s website, bio, social media, or projects.
- Please include access codes to any paid content.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed.
AASECT Award for Emergent Professional
This award is presented to an emergent AASECT member (educator, counselor, or therapist). This award recognizes individuals who have made contributions early in their career of being a sexuality professional. Early in career is in the first 3 years of AASECT membership. This award may be considered for any practical or theoretical body of work, including (but not limited to) trainings, retreats, online courses, videos or a published paper or book. The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work. Nominations due February 14, 2023.
Target Audience: Early career AASECT members
Requirement: professional must be within 3 years of AASECT membership
Submission process:
- The nominee should have (at minimum) 1 letter of support (must not be more than 500 words) from folks who are familiar with their work and must be submitted along with the application for nomination.
- Send up to 3 links to resources like the nominee’s website, bio, social media, or projects.
- Please include access codes to any paid content.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed.
Distinguished Service to AASECT Award
This award is presented to an AASECT member in good standing who is certified in at least one area and has worked to promote the mission of AASECT, advocating for sexual health through the development and advancement of sexuality education, counseling or therapy. This individual will have served the organization through activities including, but not limited to, recruitment of new members; presentation of a paper or workshop at AASECT meetings; serving on the Board of Directors, a committee or task force; developing publications for or about the organization; assistance in the development of AASECT policy; and representation of AASECT in the public sector. Nominations due February 14, 2023.
Target Audience: AASECT members
Requirement: Nominees must be an AASECT certified members
Submission process:
- The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words describing the reasons for nomination.
- Relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation.
- Please include access codes to any paid content.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed.
Humanitarian Award
This award is presented to an individual or group who has contributed to the field of human sexuality through private endeavor, charitable event(s), public awareness campaign, organizing effort, sex-positive educational offering, or political platform, and who has received national and/or international recognition for their contribution. Please submit a brief justification for your nomination at no more than 500 words, in addition to relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. The committee will view a maximum of 5 minutes of video documentation, so please cut your media accordingly, or include a time signature to reference for longer submissions. This award is open to all. Nominations due February 14, 2023.
Target Audience: Open to all
Requirements: This category is open to non-members and other professions.
Submission process:
- The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words describing the reasons for nomination.
- Relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation.
- Please include access codes to any paid content.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed.
AASECT Award for Integrative Approaches to Sex Therapy
This award is for creative applications of an integrative and interactive approach to sexual issues in clinical work with individuals, couples, groups, and/or supervisees of all ages, genders and other diversities. This award may be considered for any practical or theoretical body of work, including (but not limited to) trainings, retreats, online courses, videos or a published paper or book. Nominees should be AASECT Certified sex educators, therapists or sexuality counselors who have demonstrated a clinical consciousness that is multidimensional: inclusive of some combination of physical, emotional, cognitive and/or spiritual dimensions of sexual experience, along with relational and/or social contexts. The nominee should have one letter of support, at no more than 500 words, in addition to relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. The committee will view a maximum of 5 minutes of video documentation, so please cut your media accordingly, or include a time signature to reference for longer submissions. This award is open to AASECT Certified Sex Counselors and Therapists. Nominations due February 14, 2023.
Target Audience: AASECT members
Requirement: Nominees must be an AASECT certified members
Submission process:
- The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words describing the reasons for nomination.
- Relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation.
- Please include access codes to any paid content.
- Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF.
- Incomplete nominations won’t be reviewed.
Awards Committee 2022-23
Thanks to this community of dedicated volunteers!
Anne Mauro, LMFT, DHS, CST, CSE (she/her)
Molly Adler, LCSW, CST, ACS (she/her)
Bill Johnson, Psy.D. (he/him)
Mariotta Gary-Smith, MPH, CSE (she/her/Queen)
Terri Barrios, PhD, LMFT, CST (she/her/hers)
Lauren Morris, MA-AQR, MA-CFT, LMFTA (she/they)
Avery Whittington, MEd (he/him/his)
Heather Huckett, MA, LMFTA (she/her/hers)
Joe Molinari, LCSW, CST (he/his)
Jeannie Miller, MSSA, Surrogate Partner (she/her)
Allie Peyton, MA, LMFTA (she/her)
Claudia Johnson, MA, LMFT (ella [Spanish] | she/her/hers)
Jenn Parretta, MA, LMFTA, CSE, ATR-P (she/they)
Austin Cresap, MA, LMFTA (she/her)
Jenny Shealy, LCSW CST (she/her)
Linda Schlapfer LMFT (she her)
Lisa Meyers, PhD, MSW (she/her/dr)
Pamela Kennebrew, Ed.D, MHS (she/her)
Dorian Stein, MS, LMHCA (they/them)
Donna Blumenfeld, MA, LPCC, NCC (she/her)
Xuan Ho, MA, LMFTA (she/her)
Suzie Galstian (she/her)
Ciera Coyan, MA, LMFTA (she/her)
Maria Carrington, LCISW, CST (she/her/hers)
Alana Crawford, B.A (she/hers)
Previous Award Winners
Meet the previous group of inspiring AASECT Award Winners. Take me there →