THE SEI TEAM

Aurélie Athan, Ph.D., is faculty in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University and a reproductive psychologist. She is also a founding member of the Sexuality, Women, & Gender Project and co-creator of the Certificate Program in Reproductive & Maternal Wellbeing. Dr. Athan’s research, teaching, and practice center on people’s psychological relationship to their reproductive experiences across the lifespan. She enjoys evolving diagnostic approaches in mental health to include strengths-based models that are more holistic, empowering, and just. She revived the anthropological term— matrescence like adolescence — to normalize the developmental transition to motherhood and highlight its potential for both risk and resilience. She more recently published the emerging concept of reproductive identity and is applying it to teaching how to best support its formation in school-based sexual health education for youth and health professional’s patient practice

Heidi Vernejoul is a curriculum developer who has created projects in health education and storytelling currently being used worldwide through programs such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America and tGELF. Heidi began as a teacher in New York City public schools 25 years ago teaching French and Spanish and most recently has taught Teen Wellness and Nutrition, and Storytelling at Vanguard High School in Manhattan. Heidi completed undergraduate work at Binghamton University and studied Philosophy of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. After studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition she became a certified Health Coach and maintains a private practice as a meditation instructor, in addition to her work in curriculum writing and design. Heidi is a NYC DOE Vendor.

Kurt Conklin, MPH, MCHES is on the faculty of Public Health at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He has been a trainer of sexuality educators since he began his career with Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia in 1992. He is the author of an article in the journal History of Education Quarterly, "We Can't Let Chicago Outdo Us, Can We?" Sex Education and Desegregation in New York City Public Schools". 

FORMER WORKING GROUP MEMBERS

Teachers from NYC Public Schools that assisted in Lesson Planning

Liza Sussman (Elizabeth Sussman) is a Special Education teacher who has taught in a variety of roles in the New York City Department of Education since 2003. She has worked at both the elementary and middle school levels in almost every subject area, most recently at Brooklyn School of Inquiry, and at Central Park East II. Liza completed her MSEd in Elementary and Special Education from SUNY Geneseo, and earned her MA in Health Education from Teachers College. Liza is currently working on her School Building Leader and School District Leader certification through the College of Saint Rose.

Clement V. Gomes, PhD, is the K-12 Science Department Chair and 7th Grade Biology Teacher at the Churchill School & Center and has been teaching since 2003. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Studio Art from Binghamton University in 2003. Clement later received his Master of Arts in 2005 and PhD in 2014 from Columbia University in Science Education with a focus on audio technology to support learning disabled students to achieve science literacy. Clement also enjoys teaching courses at Teachers College, Manhattanville College, and CUNY Guttman. His life experiences growing up in NYC as a Bangladeshi immigrant and passion to develop global citizenship has led him to found International Student Learning (ISLearning) in 2012, a nonprofit organization that continues to connect and support students worldwide.

Ei Meeker is an impassioned educator and advocate of LBGTQIA+, immigrant, and educational equity issues. He previously worked in the HIV/AIDS nonprofit sector in San Francisco and New York, where he focused on expanding services to underserved communities through innovative housing, workforce development, and health services programs. Ei currently teaches Health Education & English at a public international high school in Brooklyn, NY, where 100% of his students are English Language Learners. He received his Master’s Degree in Education from CUNY as a New York City Teaching Fellow, and earned his Bachelor's Degree in English from Fordham University. As the studies of reproductive identity come to the forefront, Ei is excited about embedding them into a health curriculum that is shaped from student voice and inclusive practices.

Kristy Gallo is a mathematics and health education teacher in the New York City Department of Education. She began her teaching career in 2007 as a member of the New York City Teaching Fellows Mathematics Immersion Program. Kristy completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology at the Richard Stockton College of NewJersey (now Stockton University) and followed with a Masters of Science in Mathematics Education at the City College of New York.  Most recently she received an Advanced Certificate in Health Education K-12 from Lehman College. In addition to her work towards improving health and sexuality education, Kristy serves as a Fellow Ambassador and Fellow Effectiveness Manager in supporting the city’s newest teachers as they progress through the NYCTF program.

FORMER TEAM MEMBERS

  • Elizabeth Cavic

  • Olivia Snow

  • Allison Everett

  • Lea Silvert

  • Casey O’Leary

  • Natasha Blackadar

  • Anika Alix