Candice Nicole Hargons

Candice Nicole Hargons, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, leading the Study of Mental And Sexual Health Equity in Relationships (SMASHER) Lab with a focus on sexual wellness, liberation, and health equity for Black communities and couples.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD from the University of Georgia
• MS from Georgia State University
• BA from Spelman College

Dr. Hargons' research centers on intersectional approaches to sexual and mental health, examining how social determinants, cultural strengths, and systemic racism impact Black communities. Her community-based participatory work prioritizes liberation frameworks and centers Black women's and nonbinary individuals' experiences in sexual health, substance use, and mental wellness.

Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant qualitative investigations into Black sexualities, racial trauma, and community healing practices. Key thematic clusters include genital hygiene messaging across generations, nonbinary Black womxn's sacred identities, sexual pleasure/pain dynamics, and the impact of racism on substance use - all analyzed through Black feminist and intersectional lenses.

She directs two major federally funded initiatives:

• NICHD's ADD SEX FUN Project examining social determinants of Black and White women's sexual functioning
• SAMHSA's Neighborhood Healers Project training Black community members in Mental Health First Aid to reduce stigma and improve service access

The SMASHER Lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to develop community-driven interventions addressing sexual and mental health disparities through culturally grounded, liberation-focused science.