Candice Nicole

Candice Nicole is a Professor at the University of Kentucky and the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, where she focuses on sexual wellness, liberation, and intersectional sex-positive scholarship. She bridges academic research with public engagement through her podcast, #HotGirlScience, and her forthcoming book Good Sex: Stories, Science, and Strategies for Sexual Liberation (2025).

• Research centers Black sexualities, mental health, and community-driven interventions.
• Founder of the Neighborhood Healers Project, a community-based initiative in Lexington, Kentucky, addressing mental health stigma in Black communities.
• Principal investigator of the Big Sex Study, a large-scale, sex-positive exploration of Black sexual experiences.

Her work emphasizes accessible dissemination of science, rejecting academic gatekeeping to prioritize community needs. She advocates for culturally relevant mental health resources and challenges oppressive frameworks in sexual health research.

Candice’s research program includes grants like the AdSex Fund Study, comparing sexual functioning in Black and white women, and collaborations on topics such as masturbation narratives, sexual self-awareness, and intimacy in marginalized groups. She prioritizes mentorship, particularly for students in psychology and public health.