Lab Members
Erik D. Storholm, PhD - Director
Dr. Erik D. Storholm (he/him) is a tenured associate professor in the Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science in the School of Public Health and director of the Sexual Health Equity Lab (SHEL) at SDSU. Dr. Storholm is a licensed clinical psychologist with an established behavioral research program focused on reducing health inequities through behavioral and biomedical interventions that prevent HIV/STI transmission by improving mental health and reducing substance use and violence among sexual and gender minority populations. Dr. Storholm is currently leading several NIH-funded projects focused on biobehavioral HIV prevention uptake and adherence among sexual and gender minorities.
Carrie L. Nacht, MPH - PhD Research Assistant, Lab Manager
Carrie Nacht (she/her) is a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health at San Diego State University/University of California San Diego. She previously attended University of Illinois at Chicago for her MPH in Epidemiology with a concentration in Global Health (2019), and finished two bachelor’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2016). Her research interests include sexual and reproductive health equity, reproductive justice, social support, power dynamics in sexual relationships, and sexual/reproductive health education and access.
Benji Jensen, MA - Program Manager
Benji joined the SHEL full time in June 2023. Prior to his role as Program Manager, Benji held various project management roles at San Diego State University dedicated to university safety, advising, and teaching. He completed a M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration at the Ohio State University and studied Psychology and Business Administration at Creighton University. Benji brings a holistic approach to improving health equity, applying his background in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education, recruitment, and retention, to create participant-centered processes and form strong community partnerships.
Owen Jessup - Graduate Research Assistant
Owen Jessup (he/him) is a first year MPH student at SDSU concentrating in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science. He is a Certified Health Education Specialist and recently graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with his Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health concentrating in Worksite and University Health Promotion. His interests include tobacco cessation, sexual health, injury and disease prevention, and mental health.
Stephen Ramos, PhD, MA - Post-doctoral fellow
Stephen Ramos (he/him) is a post-doctoral fellow who joined the SHEL in August 2022. He is a psychologist and previously completed his PhD at Illinois Institute of Technology (2022), his MA at Texas State University (2016), and bachelor’s at University of North Texas (2014). He completed his clinical internship at the University of Florida. His research interests include HIV, behavioral syndemics, and marginalized populations.
Jasmine Wells - Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jasmine Wells (she/her) is a 4th year undergraduate student at San Diego State studying Public Health. Her academic interests include health inequities and genetic therapy with an emphasis on cultural competency. Through the SHEL, she has also found a love for qualitative data and its importance within the realm of sexual health research.