The Center for Human Sexuality Studies (CHSS) houses one of the only doctoral programs in human sexuality studies at a fully accredited university in the United States. Our graduates are pioneering sexologists who take on leadership roles worldwide as clinicians, educators, and sexuality researchers.
Introducing the Director:
Pamela J. Lannutti (Ph.D., The University of Georgia) is a Professor and Director of the Center for Human Sexuality Studies at Widener University. She is a social scientist who studies communication in personal relationships, with an emphasis on the relationships of LGBTQ+ people. Dr. Lannutti has conducted research on LGBTQ+ marriage for over 15 years. Dr. Lannutti is currently engaged in a 5-year longitudinal study about relational maintenance and relational satisfaction in LGBTQ+ relationships and is a lead researcher on a multi-national study of LGBTQ+ relationship experiences and LGBTQ+ well-being. Her research has been recognized with various awards, including the Randy Majors Memorial Award for Distinguished GLBTQ Communication Scholarship.
Degrees Offered
Affirmative Therapy for Transgender Communities Certificate
Human Sexuality (MEd) & Public Administration (MPA)
Human Sexuality (MEd) & School Counseling Certificate
Clinical Psychology (PsyD) & Human Sexuality Studies (MEd)
Social Work (MSW) & Human Sexuality Studies (MEd or PhD)
Human Sexuality Spotlight
Dr. Melvin T. Tillman, the 2022 award recipient for the Patricia Barthalow Koch Award for Research Publications in Sexuality
This honor is awarded each year to recognize and support the research excellence in sexology fostered by the Center for Human Sexuality Studies and exhibited by the students attaining their doctoral degrees in the program.
Dr. Melvin Tillman (he/him) received his doctorate in Human Sexuality Studies from Widener University in 2020. Despite his many research interests, he has consistently wanted to focus on the sexual pleasure of people of marginalized genders. Therefore, Dr. Tillman’s dissertation focused on the ways in which women assess authenticity, and thus enjoyment, in sexually explicit material. Approximately a year later, the Journal of Sex Research published this study. To stay abreast in research, Dr. Tillman has continued to peer review academic manuscripts in human sexuality. Dr. Tillman also works as an adjunct professor where he helps burgeoning sex educators and therapists learn about the field. Additionally, Dr. Tillman currently provides robust therapy and supervision to a diverse clientele and plans to establish his own practice to further increase accessibility to human sexuality services.
Please join us on for a virtual event celebrating Dr. Melvin Tillman on Friday, October 14, 4:30 to 6:00 pm EST on Zoom. Dr. Tillman will present his research, we will hear from Dr. Koch, and we will have time questions! https://widener.zoom.us/j/9122200319
Dr. Pam Lannutti named an International Association For Relationship Research (IARR) Fellow
Fellow status may be awarded to IARR member who have made sustained, outstanding contributions to the field of scientific research into relationships, in the areas of research, teaching, service, and/or application. Candidates will only be considered after 10 years of postdoctoral contribution. You can learn more about IARR here
CHSS Alumna Lynette Medley selected as the Philadelphia Citizen of the Week
CHSS Alumna Lynette Medley, and her daughter, Nya McGlone were selected as the Philadelphia Citizens of the Week of February 8, 2022.
In 2012, she and her daughter founded No More Secrets Mind Body Spirit, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting period poverty by giving out monthly supplies of pads, tampons and menstrual cups. In just the past fourteen months, No More Secrets has given away over four million products.
Medley and McGlone hope to continue expanding No More Secrets and SPOT Period’s reach next year. They’re in talks with other campuses where they hope to sponsor menstrual hubs and recently raised $20,000 for a mobile menstrual unit that they can drive around the city to offer supplies and education.
More information can be found out about what they do here: The Philadelphia Citizen and on IG at @TheSPOTperiodhub.
Dr. Tracie Q. Gilbert’s First Book Released in 2021
CHSS Assistant Professor, Tracie Q. Gilbert, has published her first book, Black & Sexy: A Framework of Racialized Sexuality. Dr. Gilbert shares some context on the book below:
“After years of research and preparation I’m excited to announce that my first book, Black & Sexy: A Framework of Racialized Sexuality, has officially been released through Taylor & Francis Publishing (a subsidiary of Routledge). Black & Sexy is an in-depth look at the role race plays in the sexual ideation and imagination of African American people. It is based on grounded theory dissertation research, from which I created a theoretical model of sexual engagement entitled Black Sexual Epistemology. The book begins with an overview of how race has impacted sexuality for African Americans over time, and ends with practical insight on how sexuality practitioners can more effectively address race and racial injustice in the work that they do with students and clients.”
To purchase the book you can visit the Routledge website, or go directly to https://www.drtracieg.com.
Tatyannah King, Dual Social Work & Human Sexuality Grad student, writes of her experience in the program & shares helpful tips to enhance sexual wellness, understanding
Associate Professor, Dr. Justin Sitron, Shares latest Publication on Sexological Worldview
Abstract: Sexological worldview is the lens through which someone
sees and makes meaning of the sexual world around them.
The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS)
may be a useful tool in operationalizing cultural humility and responsiveness to sexological differences. This research explored whether the DMIS explains the stages of someone’s N/A sexological worldview development across a continuum of
dualist to relativist perspectives and ways of interacting with others who are similar or different. The lead author inter- viewed 30 sexuality professionals and students in the US and found that the participants’ sexological worldview develop- ment could be explained using the DMIS framework. We dis- cuss the use of the DMIS for the future design of Sexuality Attitudes Reassessment (SAR) programs, a type of training required in the credentialing of sexologists, and the measure- ment of SAR training outcomes as they pertain to cultural humility and responsiveness. Future research should focus on the development of an empirical instrument to measure sexo- logical worldview development and SAR educators should cre- ate new, or align existing, training activities to match their SAR participants’ worldview development.
Click here for the full article.
Widener’s Interdisciplinary Sexuality Research Collaborative (ISRC) Awarded $30,000
Widener’s Interdisciplinary Sexuality Research Collaborative (ISRC) in the Center for Human Sexuality Studies was awarded $30,000 from The Foundation for Delaware County. The grant will support our ISRC colleagues to pilot a leadership training and peer sexual health education program for LGBTQ+ youth. The program will teach Delaware County youth the skills to be advocates for racial and gender justice and to develop overall sexual wellbeing. Congratulations to ISRC Director Dr. Justin Sitron on leading this project to create a first-of-its-kind program for LGBTQ+ youth!
