Meet our research team:
Dr. Chelom E. Leavitt
teaches and researches healthy sexuality. She received her PhD from Penn State. Her research specifically examines how being present, accepting, and non-judgmental is linked to improved sexual functioning and satisfaction. Dr Leavitt’s research has been published in the top academic journals. She teaches seminars on sex and healthy relationships around the world. Chelom is married to David Leavitt and they have eight (yes, eight) children.
Rebecca W. Clarke
is a PhD student at Brigham Young University studying with Dr. Chelom Leavitt. Her research focus is religion and sexuality, and she is currently working on papers dealing with sexual sanctification, sexual flourishing, and religiosity. Rebecca has been married to Sam Clarke for 24 years and they have four children.
Amber A. Price
is working on her master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development at Brigham Young University studying with Dr. Chelom Leavitt. Her research interests focus on an individual’s sense of self and how it is associated with intimate relationships such as sexuality and emotional intimacy, with a particular interest in women’s experiences. Amber has been married to Josh for 19 years and they have 4 sons.
Jenna M. Lawlor
is a master’s student at Brigham Young University working with Dr. Chelom Leavitt on a degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. Her research interests include adolescent sexual health, sex education, and preventing sexual abuse. She is currently creating a mindfulness sex education intervention for middle school students to test if mindfulness can be utilized in sex education to help adolescents develop healthy sexual attitudes. She loves working with teenagers to help them see their worth and potential.
Joanna Gurr
is a senior at BYU studying communications and family life. She is preparing for graduate school in the Marriage, Family, and Human Development program hoping to study communication between parents and children on the important topics of healthy sexuality. Outside of researching healthy sexuality with Dr. Leavitt, Joanna has written education curriculum teaching children healthy technology habits and the dangers of pornography. When not at school or work, Joanna enjoys trail running, playing the violin and singing, and washing her car.
J. B. Eyring
is an undergraduate student at Brigham Young University preparing to apply to MD/PhD programs in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. His research interests include women’s health, sexuality, and prosocial behavior in relationships. JB is currently working on papers involving sexual and relational satisfaction, mindful parental sexual education, and mindfulness through the transition to parenthood.
Alyssa L. Brown
is a student at Brigham Young University studying Statistics and Psychology. She works as a research assistant for Dr. Chelom Leavitt and is interested in positive psychology’s influence on family processes and sex. Alyssa has been married for just over a year to Trinceton “TJ” Brown and is currently working to receive her undergraduate degree and apply to grad school.
Matthew T. Saxey
is an undergraduate student in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University whose research interests primarily include how sexuality, empathy, and finances can impact marital and couple relationships—he has been researching with Chelom for about a year and a half. Matthew has been married to his beautiful wife, Brianna Saxey, since April 2020
Siera Heaton
received a B.S. in Family Life from Brigham Young University and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Touro University. She is currently loving her work as a therapist and mindfulness/yoga coach at Healthier You Counseling Center. Siera’s research interests include connections between spiritual belief, cultural tradition, and therapeutic success, as well as mindfulness, interpersonal relationships, and physical health.
Fatma Luka
My name is Fatma Luka and I am a senior majoring in Psychology. I’m also minoring in Family Life and Arabic. Fatma enjoys learning about topics in these areas because they are so applicable to life. Fatma’s plan is to get a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Hobbies include reading, drawing, and organizing things around my house and she served a mission in Tahiti and had a wonderful opportunity to go on a study abroad in Jordan for Arabic!
Cami English
is studying Sociology and Family Life at BYU and is hoping to get into grad school there next year. She is from the St. Louis area and comes from a big family with 10 siblings and 43 nieces and nephews. She has been married for a year to her husband, Tanner. They love to play board games, read, and cook together. She is passionate about educating parents on teaching their children about healthy sexuality.
Tyson
is a senior studying Family Studies and is preparing for a graduate program in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is from the small town of Montesano, Washington, and is the oldest of six siblings. In his nonexistent free time, he enjoys running, hiking, playing guitar, and spending time with family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to more fully recognize their intrinsic worth and potential. As a research assistant in Dr. Leavitt’s lab, Tyson is interested in understanding parent-child relationships and helping youth and young adults to develop healthy sexual attitudes.
Alyssa Carroll
is an undergraduate student at BYU studying Human Development and Family Studies. She is from Highland, Utah, and is the oldest of four children. Her primary research interests revolve around sex education in public schools and how mental health influences relationships. Alyssa enjoys learning about sexual mindfulness and healthy communication in dating and marriage relationships. She is passionate about helping others (specifically young adults) develop a positive, healthy attitude towards sex and sexuality.
Charice D. West
is an undergraduate student at Brigham Young University studying Family Science and working with Dr. Chelom Leavitt. She is interested in continuing her education in Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently Charice works at a treatment center for young girls who are hoping to heal family relationships. Charice has been married to her sweetheart Ryan for almost two years. They enjoy folding origami together, adding to their extensive Rubick’s cube collection, and playing music.
CURRENT RESEARCH:
Current research projects and publications under review include:
Sexual Mindfulness Intervention: When couples are taught to be sexually mindful, does it actually improve their sexual outcomes?
Differentiation and Attachment: Enemies or partners? Are these two concepts mutually exclusive or do they go hand in hand and is one or the other more closely associated with positive sexual outcomes than the other?
Media, Body Image, and Sexuality: Technology use is always on the rise, but does more use of technology interfere with your sexual relationship?
Gender and Religion: Gender roles are often an important part of religious teachings but what does that look like in everyday life? After in-depth interviews with couples, we explore what it means to be a religious man or woman.
Gender Mindfulness: Do men and women differ in their trait mindfulness? What about sexual mindfulness? And if there are differences, what accounts for these?