Management Team

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.

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Anna Randall, MSW, DHS, MPH is TASHRA’s Executive Director. She is a clinical sexologist and sex therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Anna has over 25 years of experience in both the private and public sectors of health and sexuality and career focus is on the nexus of healthcare and sexual health. She lectures nationally to both professionals and consumers on the special mental health needs of sexual minorities and research focuses on relational power dynamics, self actualization and attachment. Her busy therapy practices in SF and Silicon Valley exemplify the vast interests and personalities of the kink community.

Kaylie Engel (She/Her) attended Lewis & Clark College for her undergraduate degree in International Affairs and Ethnic Studies with an academic focus on global reproductive health and justice. Engel’s thesis focused on how U.S. foreign policy affected abortion and other reproductive health policies abroad. Kaylie is currently located in Chicago, IL. Since graduating, Engel has been working as a sexual health professional. Engel also works with the William A. Percy foundation helping to create content for and build an educational website for parents of LGBTQ+ children. Engel is passionate about reproductive justice and culturally competent sex education. Engel is also a multi-disciplinary artist who works with textiles, print making, and photography.

Steve (he, him) is a Research Scientist at TASHRA and a lead research associate on TASHRA’s International Kink Health Study (IKHS). In addition to IKHS, Steve is currently participating in the development of TASHRA’s Power Exchange Relationships (PER) study and TASHRA’s HIV intervention study. Steve’s research interests including studying various aspects of kink communities and other gender, sexual, and relationship diversity (GSRD) communities. Steve is also a licensed mental health counselor and certified sex therapist serving Florida, New Mexico, and Oregon. In his clinical work, Steve specializes in treating LGBTQ+, Kinky, and Consensually Non-Monogamous (CNM) clients. Steve is also on the board of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and volunteers for a number of sexuality professional organizations.

Zita Nickeson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in WA, ID, CO and is a Telehealth Provider in FL. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Educator and a Kink Knowledgeable Professional.

Zita is the owner/director of NW Sexual Counseling, a private practice specializing in sexual, gender and relationship therapy, education, coaching and advocacy. She has maintained her private practice for over a decade, providing sex positive services to many underserved and rural communities. Counselor training and education in inclusive sexual healthcare is one of Zita’s passions. This has led her to supervise Master’s Level Counseling Students and Pre-Licensure Counseling Professionals for the past 7 years. Additionally, as one of the few Certified Sex Therapists in her region, Zita has also been an Instructor for the Healthy Loving Institute as well as providing sex and Kink positive presentations to the local Mental Health, Medical and Kink communities.

Having worked in the Mental Health field for over 20 years, Zita has also seen the significant need and importance of reducing stigma associated with sex and Kink in the healthcare field. With this in mind, Zita delightfully joined the TASHRA International Kink Health Survey team in January of 2019. Since then, she has enjoyed being a part of a larger, interdisciplinary team working towards creating a more Kink inclusive healthcare system!

Keziah L. Mayers graduated from Gonzaga University with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is currently working as a Mental Health Counselor at her private practice Body & Bind Counseling, PLLC. She specializes in sex therapy, sex education, Kink/BDSM, infidelity recovery, discernment counseling, alternative relationships, multicultural issues, and LGBTQ+ related issues.

Kez currently works as the FetLife Liason for TASHRA and as a Research Associate on the International Kink Health Study since October 2020. Kez also plays a role in the Social Media Outreach and Recruitment team.

Kez is dedicated to meeting the complex needs of people of color and sexual minorities as well as providing a safe space for individuals to explore their identity. Through the IKHS, she hopes to advocate for her clients and guide other health care professionals to be more kink-inclusive and kink-informed.

Alejandra (she/they) is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. Ale obtained undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Legal Studies. Ale is passionate about deconstructing barriers to access via social-justice grounded praxis and research. Her research interests reside in organizational psychology, alternative sexualities, and health outcomes for communities of color!