Shanna Katz Kattari

Shanna K. Kattari, PhD, MEd, CSE, ACS (they/them/theirs) is an associate professor at the School of Social Work, in the Women’s and Gender Studies Department (by courtesy), and is the director of the [Sexuality|Relationships|Gender] Research Collective. A white, Jewish, nonbinary, disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, polyamorous, queer fat Femme, their practice and community background is as a board-certified sexologist, certified sexuality educator and social justice activist. Kattari’s research focuses on three areas that often overlap: disability and ableism, sexuality and sexual health, and queer and trans affirming practice. Their work aims to understand how power, privilege and oppression systematically marginalize, exclude and discriminate against people regarding their identities, while also uplifting the brilliance and resistance demonstrated by these communities in the face of stigma and harm. Recently, Kattari’s work has focused on the health disparities among trans/nonbinary communities, across physical, behavioral and sexual health, using community-based participatory research and arts-based methods. Their work has also included several studies on disability and ableism, particularly regarding the academy, and social work education.

Kattari also explores experiences of sexuality in marginalized communities, most notably disabled adults, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, those practicing non-monogamy,and those practicing kink/Leather/BDSM. Their work with the SRG Collective allows them collaborators across North America, England and Aotearoa/New Zealand, and they deeply value having many students and community members as collaborators.

Kattari strongly believes in translational research that benefits the communities being researched, and values making research accessible to not only academics but also to society at large. They are committed to engaging, innovative education and critical pedagogy, multi-level omnidirectional mentorship models and supporting individuals from a variety of identities in entering, navigating and succeeding in the academy. Kattari is also the co-chair of the Caucus of LGBTQ Faculty & Students in Social Work and serves on the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Council on Disability and Persons with Disabilities, having previously served as co-chair of the CSWE Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression.