Shahzarin Khan, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health and Health Education at SUNY Brockport. Her PhD dissertation, Sexual Pleasure Experiences of South Asian Immigrant Women in the U.S., examined how cultural norms, gendered expectations, and migration play a role in body image and sexual agency.In teaching, she emphasizes inclusive pedagogy and active learning.
Dr Khan’s global health experience includes serving as Research Associate with The Pleasure Project, where she collaborated with partners in Brazil and Tanzania to develop a gender equity and sexual wellbeing framework. She managed reproductive health, family planning, and sexuality education portfolios at the Packard Foundation in India, working with more than 30 nonprofits and grassroots organizations.
Education
PhD in Health Behavior, Indiana University Bloomington, 2025
Postgraduate Diploma in Liberal Arts and Leadership, Ashoka University (India), 2016
Masters in Economics and Bachelors in Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (India), 2014
Areas of Specialty
Sexual and reproductive health, sexual pleasure, sexual violence, South Asia, women’s health, qualitative research
Courses Taught
Human Sexuality
Global Health
Research Interests
Dr. Khan’s research centers on sexual health, pleasure, and education, with a particular focus on marginalized and immigrant communities. At Indiana University Bloomington, Center for Sexual Health Promotion, she led multiple funded projects, including a qualitative study of Indian women’s masturbation experiences.
Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award ($2500) for excellence in teaching (2025)
Advancing Women in Science (AWIS) Distinguished Doctoral Research Scholarship ($10,000)
John H Edward Fellowship ($25,000) for extraordinary record of voluntary public service, exemplary character, superior scholastic ability, and intellectual capacity (2024)
Ostrom Research Award ($3500): For qualitative study of South Asian women’s sexual pleasure (2024)
Doug Kirby Adolescent Sexual Health Grant ($1800): For translations and transcription of interviews in South Asian languages (2024)
Walsh K, Schipani-McLaughlin AM, Stappenbeck C, Khan S, Woodworth A, Panwalkar S, Acierno R, Gilmore A Refining a Video and Text Message Intervention (STAR, Skills Training in Active Recovery) to Prevent the Onset and/or Escalation of Posttraumatic Stress and Opioid Misuse Among Recent Sexual Assault Survivors: Community Engaged Study. JMIR Form Res 2025;9:e72095. URL: https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e72095. doi: 10.2196/72095
Greer, K. M., Khan, S., Sangmo, D., Greene, A., & Rutkowski, D. (2024). Navigating the future of sexuality education in the USA: applying technology mediation theory to AI-Facilitated Sexuality Education. Sex Education, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2024.2401802
Herbenick, D., Guerra-Reyes, L., Perry, C. P., Gonzalez, Y. R. R., Khan, S., Zounlomè, N. O. O., & Jozkowski, K. N. (2024). Navigating Consent in the Context of Sexual Choking/Strangulation: Findings from Qualitative Interviews with Young Adults. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-024-01004-4
Herbenick, D., Patterson, C., Khan, S., Voorheis, E., Sullivan, A., Wright, P., Keene, S. (2022). “Don’t just randomly grab someone’s neck during intercourse!” an analysis of internet articles about choking/strangulation during sex. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 49(1), 41–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623x.2022.2065392
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Herbenick, D., Patterson, C., Khan, S., Voorheis, E., Sullivan, A., Wright, P., Keene, S. (2022, November) “Don’t just randomly grab someone’s neck during intercourse!” [Virtual Poster]. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in Vancouver, Canada.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Khan S., Marwa A., Walsh-Buhi E., Guerra-Reyes L., Greene A. and Lester J. (2025, November) Role of Body Image in Sexual Pleasure: Experiences of South Asian Immigrant Women in the US. [Oral Presentation]. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Patterson C., Herbenick D., Khan S. (2024, November) Connecting with Orgasm through Virtual Bodysex [Oral Presentation]. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in San Diego, California.
Khan, S., Tenzin N., Ingle S., Guerra-Reyes L., Sarfare S., Kulkarni S., Herbenick D. (2023, November) Qualitative Experiences of Masturbation of Indian Women [Poster]. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Greer K., Khan S., Sangmo D., Greene A., Rutkowski D. (2023, November) ChatGPT as an avenue for sexuality education – Co-presenter for Poster presentation for The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Khan, S., Tenzin N., Ingle S., Guerra-Reyes L., Sarfare S., Kulkarni S., Herbenick D. (2023, May) “I feel liberated, freer, and more independent”: Indian women’s masturbation experience [Poster]. Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) in Tampa, Florida.
