Based in Southern California in the Los Angeles area, Dr. Tiffany Chan (she, her, they pronouns) is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator (CHSE) and board-certified Sexologist who specializes in kink education and D/s dynamics within her private consulting practice. Her work is deeply rooted in embodiment, holistic principles, and empowering people to live authentically. 

Tiffany completed her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a concentration in Leadership in 2020, M.A. in English Literature in 2013, and B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing in 2011. She has been publishing scholarly works, non-fiction articles and erotica novellas since 2016 and is a proud promoter of erotic intelligence. In addition, she is also an RYT-200 yoga instructor, aerialist, and provocative artist.

In 2020, Tiffany became a coalition member of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and an active member of the Kink/BDSM Special Interest Group of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS). She began her journey volunteering with The Alternative Sexual Health Research Alliance (TASHRA) in 2022 and is currently participating in the development of TASHRA’s Authority Transfer study with further interest in researching alternative lifestyles, Tantra, consensual non-monogamy, gender, and LGTBQ+ studies.

Tiffany is also the host of The Submissive Next Door Podcast (known as “Dr. Tiffany “K.” on the show), which brings a down-to-Earth approach to D/s dynamics and the world of kink through scholarly research, communication, consent, and safety practices. In 2022, she launched her second podcast, More Than Sex, which discusses sexological topics from historical, literary, and scientific perspectives. She is on a mission to de-stigmatize alternative lifestyles and sexuality by holding space for inclusion and acceptance for all sexualities and identities. 

For more information about Dr. Tiffany Chan, visit her website below.

David (he/him) is currently in his final semester of his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Guelph. It was here that he first discovered his passion for human sexuality research. His thesis examines the Toronto pup play community and their experiences with mental health and wellness. Along with his research, David has a vested interest in increasing education within the alternative sexuality space. He has extensive experience conducting professional development workshops for high school and university students.

David began volunteering with TASHRA in late 2022 and is actively pursuing opportunities to grow as a researcher and advocate within the alternative sexuality community. His research interests include the pup play and furry communities, the effects of participation in kink on mental health, and romantic relationships within kink communities. He looks forward to his time volunteering with TASHRA and his future as a sexuality researcher and educator.

Steve (he, him pronouns) is a licensed mental health counselor and AASECT certified sex therapist in private practice in Portland, Oregon who specializes in treating LGBTQ+, Kinky, and Consensually Nonmonogamous (CNM) clients. Steve completed his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies in 2006 and his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology in 2009. In 2018, Steve began doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology. Steve’s doctoral studies are focusing on gender, sexual, and relationship diversity (GSRD). Steve joined the directors board of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) in March 2021. Steve began volunteering with The Alternative Sexual Health Research Alliance (TASHRA) in late 2020. 

Steve was appointed a Research Scientist at TASHRA in 2022 and a lead research associate on TASHRA’s International Kink Health Study (IKHS) in 2021. In addition to IKHS, Steve is currently participating in the development of TASHRA’s Authority Transfer study, healing experiences study, and HIV intervention study. Steve’s research interests including studying various aspects of kink communities and other gender, sexual, and relationship diversity (GSRD) communities.

For more information about Steve, please visit his website below.

Anna Randall, DHS, LCSW, MPH (she/her/hers) the Co-Founder & Exec. Dir. of TASHRA – The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance (tashra.org), an international health research and professional training organization focusing on stigmatized sexual minority populations.

With a Masters in Social Work from Boston University and a Doctorate in Human Sexuality and Masters in Public Health from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco, my work over the last 20 years has been to build awareness of the emergence of Kink-sexuality as an scientific area of clinical and research specialty. I work with TASHRA’s worldwide team to create kink community educational programs, mentor healthcare providers, lead professional case-consultation groups, and develop courses and curriculum for healthcare professional continuing education and post graduate programs. As part of our research on the lived-experienced of kink-involved (BDSM & fetish), I am the Co-Principal Investigator on the International Kink Health Study kinkhealth.org and a founder of the MOTE Conference mote-con.org. In my private practice as a licensed LCSW, I specialize in sex therapy with individuals, couples, and other relational configurations.

Richard Sprott, PhD is TASHRA’s Research Director. He is a developmental psychologist, researcher, and educator at a number of Bay Area universities, including Cal State University, East Bay and UC Berkeley Extension. His research focuses on sexual identity development, and the impact of stigma and prejudice on interactions between counselors/ therapists and members of stigmatized groups. Richard is also a founding member of CARAS – the Community Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities.  He is in leadership of the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, Division 44 of the American Psychological Association.