Scholarship Amount: The Creating Community scholarship recipients will receive full conference registration and 3 nights in the conference hotel. 

Number of Scholarships: 15

Eligibility Requirements: The scholarship is open to graduate students and new sexuality professionals who are AASECT members in good standing and demonstrate a need for the scholarship in one or more of the following ways:

1. Financial difficulties in accessing AASECT’s Annual Conference.
2. Reside in an area where there is limited or no support for/presence of sexuality educators, counselors or therapists.
3. Reside in an area where there is limited to no support for/representation of racial, ethnic or diversely identified sexuality educators, counselors or therapists.

Those interested in applying must also have a prerequisite degree (minimum Bachelor’s level) for pursuing a career in the field of human sexuality, sexuality education, sexuality counseling, sex therapy, sex research, sexology or sexual health.

Application Details: Those interested in applying should write a 1 page essay demonstrating the need for scholarship based on the criteria above and include the following information in your application letter:

• Your commitment to pursuing a career in the field of human sexuality, sexuality education, sexuality counseling, sex therapy, sex research or sexual health.
• How this scholarship award would help in accomplishing one’s personal career goals.

Applicants should also provide two letters of recommendation documenting one’s commitment to the field of human sexuality, sexuality education, sexuality counseling, sex therapy, sex research or sexual health.*

*If you are unable to get the letters, please state that in your application and you will still be considered for the scholarship.

To apply for the Creating Community Scholarship: Please submit all of the above criteria in one PDF file to conference@aasect.org. Incomplete or piecemeal applications will not be accepted.

The deadline for applications for the Creating Community Scholarship is April 14, 2023. 

The focus and purpose of the 2023 AASECT Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and Equity Fund Sponsored Scholarships is to increase conference access to underrepresented populations within AASECT and within the field of Sexuality.  

According to the AASECT membership demographics survey, the most underrepresented populations within AASECT are: Trans, Non-Binary, and/or gender diverse people, those under 24 years old, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), people living with disabilities, Sexuality Educators, and those with annual household incomes of less than $80k.  The DEI and scholarship selection committee has placed an intentional focus on supporting those with multiple intersections of the aforementioned identities.

Eligibility Requirements and Application Process: Please complete the application form, which addresses the following:

• Your identity as one or more of the following: a person who is Trans/Non-Binary/Gender diverse, 24 years old or younger, BIPOC, a person living with a disability, a sexuality educator, and someone with a household income of less than $80k.
• Your interest in attending the 2023 Conference in San Francisco. 
• Your work in diversity, equity, and/or inclusion as it relates to sexuality education, counseling, therapy, or advocacy (or the work you hope to do). 
• Any volunteering you’ve done for AASECT (this is not a requirement to apply)
• The type of scholarship that you are requesting

Scholarship Types and Amounts: 

There are 10 scholarships available that include in-person conference registration, 3 nights in the conference hotel and travel stipend/reimbursement. 

• Travel stipend/reimbursement details: 3 nights in the conference hotel ($250/night) will be provided for each recipient as well as up to $250 in additional air/ground transportation reimbursement for a total of up to $1000. 

There are 22 scholarships available that include full in-person conference registration and continuing education credits

If you have any questions about scholarship criteria or the application process, please email dei@aasect.org.

The deadline for applications for the AASECT Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and Equity Fund Sponsored Scholarships is April 14, 2023. 

The Dr, Lexx Brown-James scholarship is endowed by Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski in gratitude for Dr. Lexx’s support and friendship during Dr. Mary Jo’s chemotherapy for breast cancer. From March, 2019 to March, 2020, whenever Dr. Mary Jo received a chemo treatment, Dr. Lexx sent her videos and pictures of her two precious little ones, Garnet and Braxton. As a dear friend, Dr. Lexx knew her children would bring Dr. Mary Jo joy. Through a solid year of weekly, then biweekly appointments, Dr. Lexx never failed to be there. Acknowledging her model of kindness and support publicly allows Dr. Mary Jo a chance to seize a teachable moment about the great gift of holding space for another while honoring a wonderful friend and colleague.

Scholarship Amount: The Dr. Lexx Brown-James scholarship will provide a full conference registration for one recipient every year for five years.

Number of Scholarships: 1

Eligibility Requirements: The scholarship is open to Black, Indigenous, People of Color who are graduate students and/or new sexuality professionals (Less than 3 years as a sexuality professional – no degree necessary), and desire to attend the AASECT Conference.

Those interested in applying must be AASECT members and express a desire for pursuing a career in the field of human sexuality, sexuality education, sexuality counseling, sex therapy, sex research, sexology, or sexual health.

Application Details: Those interested in applying should write a 1-page essay detailing their dream of working in the sexuality field including:

• Your current pursuit of work (if applicable) in the field of human sexuality, sexuality education, sexuality counseling, sex therapy, sex research or sexual health.
• How you plan to use the knowledge and the potential relationships gained at the conference to further advance your dreams.
• Who – outside of Dr. Lexx Brown-James or Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski – influenced your desire to be in the field of human sexuality.

To apply for the Dr. Lexx Brown-James Scholarship: Please submit all of the above criteria in one PDF file to conference@aasect.org. Incomplete or piecemeal applications will not be accepted.

The deadline for applications for the Dr. Lexx Brown-James Scholarship is April 14, 2023. 

Joan Sughrue, MEd, BSN, RN, DST, CSTS, in memory of her beloved husband, John Sughrue, Jr., MD, DST, is offering scholarships for medical or nursing students to receive sexuality education and training by attending the AASECT 2023 Annual Conference. The scholarship is open to both US and international students.

John became an AASECT member in the late 1970s. He was certified as a Sex Therapist in 1983 and awarded Diplomate of Sex Therapy status in 2003. John loved attending and learning at AASECT conferences and felt that physicians and nurses should be adequately trained in the sexuality field.

Amount of Scholarship: $1000 to be used toward attendance and travel at the AASECT Annual Conference. 

Number of Scholarships: 1

To apply for the John Sughrue, Jr., MD Scholarship: Please send:

• Your current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of application stating your interest in the sexuality field and how you plan to incorporate sexuality education and counseling in your medical or nursing practice.

Please submit all parts of your application in one PDF file to conference@aasect.org.  Incomplete or piecemeal applications will not be accepted. 

The deadline for applications for the John Sughrue, Jr., MD Scholarship is April 14, 2023. 

DEI and Financial Need Scholarship Criteria

One of the two scholarships is available to a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC). The second scholarship will be awarded based on financial need. Those interested in applying to the scholarship must meet the following criteria and prior to applying, participants must already be an AASECT Member in good standing, have an AASECT Supervisor, and be on a path toward certification.

Scholarship Funding

In an effort to create more opportunities and access to AASECT Certification, the supervisors have waived their honorarium for this event. See full session details.

Scholarship Application

To apply please submit a personal statement up to 500 words, based on the criteria outlined above and include your commitment to pursuing a career in the field of human sexuality, sexuality education, sexuality counseling, sex therapy, sex research, or sexual health. Please submit your personal statement to conference@aasect.org. Incomplete or partial applications will not be accepted. The recipients of both scholarships will be confidential unless the recipients ask for the award to be announced.

The deadline for applications for this scholarship is April 14, 2021.