Shanna K. Kattari

Is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies (by courtesy). A white, Jewitchy, nonbinary, disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, kinky, polyam, queer fat Femme, their practice and community background is as a board certified sexologist, certified sexuality educator, and social justice advocate.  Dr. Kattari’s extant research focuses on understanding how power, privilege and oppression systematically marginalize, exclude, and discriminate against people regarding their identities/expressions through negative attitudes, policies reinforcing oppression, oppressive actions and isolation. Their work centers on disability and ableism, and transgender/nonbinary (TNB) identities and transphobia, using an intersectional lens. Recently, they have focused on the health disparities among TNB communities, across physical and behavioral health, as well as working with the community through community based participatory research to better understand how the lack of inclusive providers has increased these disparities. They are also interested in examining sexuality in marginalized communities, particularly disabled adults and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. In their work, Dr. Kattari strongly values translational research that benefits the communities being researched, and strongly believes in making research accessible to not only academics but also to society at large. They are also committed to engaging, innovative education and pedagogy, multi-level mentorship models, and supporting individuals from a variety of marginalized identities in entering, navigating, and succeeding in the Academy.