About

Sharyn A. Dougherty, PhD, MPH, CHES is our Principal Consultant and a social science research analyst for the federal government. Through positions in the public and nonprofit sectors, Sharyn has gained experience in adolescent health, curriculum development, program evaluation, health disparities research, data dissemination, and community engagement using mixed methods approaches. Her research interests include exploring innovative methods to engage parents and their children in comprehensive sexual health education. Most recently, Sharyn served as the Director of Evaluation at a national cancer prevention organization, where she developed the organization's health equity framework, established and led the Health Equity work group, and coordinated efforts to measure and share the impact of programs, campaigns, and initiatives. As a Research Scientist with over 10 years of experience, I utilize my skills to develop policy and practice recommendations that address the holistic needs of youth and young adults, applying social and behavioral change theories to projects that address health using a social determinants of health framework. Ms. Dougherty received her BA in Sociology from Spelman College, a Master of Public Health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, and a PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was the recipient of the Institutional Doctoral Scholars award from the Southern Regional Education Board. Her dissertation was titled "'It's just not enough’: Examining the experiences of school-based sexual health education and conversation engagement with trusted adults among Black boys in Richmond, VA.” Sharyn enjoys traveling, spending time with family and her puppy Bentley, and indulging in self-care practices.