*Please note that the SHIFT lab is no longer accepting new members for the Spring semester. If you are interested in joining the lab as an undergraduate or graduate research assistant in Fall 2026, please reach out via email!

Welcome to the SHIFT (Sexual Health Innovations for Teens) lab at North Carolina A&T State University! In this research group, we take a community-engaged approach to understanding and improving sexual health, primarily among adolescents. Our work focuses on:

1. Understanding adolescents’ beliefs, behaviors, and experiences related to sex, sexuality, and sexual health.

2. Promoting positive sexual communication, consent, and boundary-setting skills among youth.

3. Leveraging technology (e.g., apps, websites, social media) to share sexual health information in accessible, youth-friendly formats.

4. Advancing sex education to be more evidence-based, inclusive, engaging, and relevant - particularly for youth underserved by traditional sex education, such as LGBTQ+ adolescents.

5. Involving community members in the solutions to their own sexual health- and education-related issues.

6. Finding accessible ways to share our research findings with the public!

Meet our team!

  • Sydni Madden

    Sydni is a senior Psychology student with a minor in Child Development and Family Studies, from Atlanta, Georgia. In the future, she plans to assist in curating curriculum that incorporates various different learning styles and is inclusive to all students regardless of cultural background.

  • Shaniah Pope

    Shaniah is a senior interested in research that supports the mental health and wellbeing of Black teens and college students, especially through culturally relevant education. She is excited to create more ways to promote healthy relationships, good communication, and consent. 

  • Kennedy Saulter

    Kennedy is a a senior Psychology student from Chicago, Illinois. She is dedicated to conducting research that improves the quality of life of marginalized groups. She hopes to serve her community as an advocate and voice to people who are left behind in our justice system, and believes that understanding all sides of minority issues will help her have a successful career as an advocate.  

  • Imani Richardson-Green

    Imani is a sophomore at A&T who is deeply interested in research focused on children and youth, especially those who come from disadvantaged or unstable backgrounds. She aims to explore how early childhood adversity shapes their development, well-being, and opportunities throughout their lives.

  • Leah Charles

    Leah Charles is a junior Psychology student from Brooklyn, NY. Her career goal is to become a Family & Marriage therapist in the state of New York.