Curriculum Vitae

Abbreviated

Education

Columbia University, Master of Public Health

Sexuality & Health

New York, NY | 2010-2012

University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts

African & African Diaspora Studies

Psychology

Austin, TX | 2005-2010

Professional Experience

Feb. 2021 - Present | CEO & Principal Consultant, Sasha Simon Consulting. Virtual, Global.

Aug. 2017 - Apr. 2021 | Senior Program Manager, Drug Policy Alliance. New York, NY.

2014 - 2016 | Founding 10th Grade Health Teacher, Health, Education & Research Occupations (HERO) High School, NYC Department of Education. Bronx, NY.

2013 - 2019 | Adjunct Lecturer, City University of New York (CUNY). Queens, NY; Bronx, NY. Courses taught:

York College

PH 201: History & Principles of Public Health
HE 241: Sex & Sexuality

Hostos Community College

HLT 103: Interpersonal Relations & Teamwork
HLT 215: Nutrition

2013 - 2018 | Health Educator, GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis). New York, NY.

2012 - 2017 | Co-Founder & Director of Marketing, The Fierce Leadership for Youth (FLY) Academy. Bronx, NY.

2012 | Independent Consultant - Critical Race Discourse Think Tank, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. New York, NY.

Internships, Practica & Teaching Assistantships

2011 - 2012 | Mobile Health Educator - Project STAY (Services to Assist Youth), Columbia University, New York, NY.

2011 | Training & Organization Development Intern - The Child Center of New York, Jamaica, NY.

2008 - 2010 | Teaching Assistant - Cognitive Psychology, John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY). Lancaster, PA; Los Angeles, CA.

2007 | Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Intern - Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab (GARAL), University of Texas at Austin. Austin, TX.

2006 - 2007 | Intern - Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin. Austin, TX.

Selected Conferences & Presentations

July 2023. Panelist, “Transcending Oppression: Uniting Against Anti-Trans Legislation & Inspiring Action.” National Harm Reduction Coalition (Virtual).

November 2022. Panelist, “Harm Reduction Techniques for Substances.” Peer Health Exchange Alumni Engagement Event (Virtual).

April 2021. Presenter, “A Harm Reduction Approach to High School Drug Education.” Systems Thinking and Interconnectedness, Social Justice, Health Equity, and Leadership, Mentoring, and Training the Next Workforce (session). Society of Public Health Education SOPHE2021dX Conference (virtual).

October 2020. Presenter, “Dare to resist abstinence-based drug education: The urgent case for harm reduction-based approaches to high school health education.” American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo (Virtual).

October 2020. Co-Moderator, “School Health Programs, Services and Policies (oral session).” American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo (Virtual).

October 2020. Moderator, “School, Parent/Caregiver and/or Community Care Partnerships to Promote School Health (oral session).” American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo (Virtual).

August 2020. Presenter, “How to teach about cannabis and vaping by teaching students to think for themselves.” Youth + Tech + Health Live Global Conference (Virtual).

January 2020. Co-Presenter, “The importance of media literacy in the evolving landscape of vaping and drugs.” Stanford University Teaching Cannabis Awareness and Prevention Conference (Stanford, CA).

January 2020. Co-Presenter, “How to create a science-based, skills-based lesson plan about vaping.” New York City Health & Physical Education Conference (New York, NY).

January 2020. Presenter, “How to incorporate a harm reduction approach to classroom drug education.” New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSAHPERD) NYC Health & Physical Education Conference (New York, NY).

November 2019. Co-Presenter, “Safety First curriculum training: A hands-on tour of DPA’s new drug education program for high school educators.” International Drug Policy Reform Conference (St. Louis, MO).

November 2019. Moderator, “Does harm reduction-based drug education work for teens? Evaluation results from the Drug Policy Alliance’s Safety First curriculum.” International Drug Policy Reform Conference (St. Louis, MO).

October 2019. Delegate (New York State), Society of Public Health Education Annual Advocacy Summit: Championing Health for Vulnerable Populations (Washington, DC).

December 2018. Panelist, “Marijuana and Public Health (watch session).” Marijuana: Justice, Equity and Reinvestment Conference (Albany, NY).