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.
Benji Jensen, MA
Program Manager (Project Eros)
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.
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.
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.
Hannah Reynolds
Graduate Research Assistant
Hannah Reynolds (she/her) is a first year student in SDSU’s MPH program, emphasizing in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences. She recently graduated in 2022 from SDSU with her Bachelor of Science in Public Health. This will be her second year contributing to the SHEL Lab. Her interests include promoting community health through equitable healthcare services, disease prevention, sexual health and wellbeing, and queer sexual and reproductive health equity.
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.
Mari Amato
Graduate Research Assistant
Mari Amato (she/her) is a second year master’s student in the Child and Family Development program at San Diego State University. Previously, she attended San Jose State University, earning a B.A. in Psychology. Mari’s research interests center around culture, gender identity, and sexuality, and how the intersection of these identity factors impacts the experiences of adolescents and emerging adults.
Sandhya Muthuramalingam
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sandhya Muthuramalingam (she/her) is a 4th year undergraduate student obtaining a BS in Public Health with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her interests include addressing health inequity for minority groups and improving health literacy rates for underserved communities.