CHET proudly congratulates core faculty chair, Laneshia Conner, PhD, MSW, CSW, and core faculty member, Shemeka Thorpe, PhD, who were both recently promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure. Their achievements reflect continued excellence in research, mentorship, teaching, and service.
Dr. Conner is a faculty member in the UK College of Social Work whose research focuses on HIV risk reduction for older Black women, culturally relevant sexual health programming, and advancing health outcomes in aging communities. Her work has received support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the National Institute on Aging. In addition to her scholarship, Dr. Conner is recognized for her innovative teaching approaches and strong commitment to community engagement.
Dr. Thorpe is an award-winning sexuality educator and researcher whose work centers on the sexual well-being of Black women and family planning among Black queer women. A faculty member in the UK College of Education and assistant director of the UNITE Research Priority Area, she has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles. Her work has been featured by major national media outlets including The New York Times, Essence, and Cosmopolitan, and she is widely recognized for translating sex science in accessible and meaningful ways for Black communities.
In addition to their remarkable contributions to their respective departments and academic fields, both Dr. Conner and Dr. Thorpe have supported CHET’s training mission through service to the SPARK Program and the center’s professional development series.
Congratulations to Dr. Conner and Dr. Thorpe!