About Me

Courtney is a sexuality educator, certified sexuality counselor, and relational wellness advocate. They are currently pursuing a PhD in Human Sexuality at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), where they serve as the student trustee on the CIIS Board of Trustees. Their academic and professional expertise centers on Black sexuality, sexual pleasure, relational wellness, hypersexualization, colorism, adultification, body autonomy, and the lived experiences of Black women, femmes, and girls.

Courtney is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP) and a Sexual Health Alliance Certified Sexuality Counselor (CSC), credentials that complement their work in sexuality education, trauma-informed care, and equity-centered counseling. As the Founder and Principal of The Cognition Collective, LLC—a practice specializing in education and diversity consulting—they provide comprehensive, culturally responsive consulting services. Their work emphasizes intersectionality as a lens and framework.

They currently serve as a Senior Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) professional, where they integrate health equity principles into DEIB strategies and advocate for trauma-informed and inclusive care. Previously, they held leadership roles where they developed and led programs aimed at increasing access to education for historically marginalized communities.

Courtney is an active scholar and thought leader in the field of sexuality studies. Their academic contributions include “Medical Gendered Racism and Black Women's Experiences of Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder in the USA – A Conceptual Exploration” (2024) and presentations such as “Pop Culture’s Gaze: Unraveling the Media’s Erasure of Black Sexuality” (2025) and “Bob’s Burgers, The Great North, and Big Mouth: Tackling Bias, Equity, and Cultural Humility in Sexualities Education Through Animated Media” (2024). Their research and public engagement focus on dismantling harmful sexual narratives, addressing systemic barriers to pleasure and agency, and fostering sex-positive, culturally affirming education.

Beyond their academic and professional commitments, Courtney is deeply involved in advocacy for gender and racial equity, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and educational justice. They serve on several boards, including the Pacific Center for Human Growth and Domestic Violence Project, Inc., and contribute to initiatives that support sexual health access, reproductive justice, and community-centered healing.

Through their scholarship, counseling, and advocacy, Courtney continues to push the boundaries of sexuality education and relational wellness, ensuring that historically marginalized communities have access to affirming, pleasure-centered, and transformative sexual health resources.