Lisa Speidel

Lisa Speidel is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia specializing in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Her work bridges academic scholarship with community activism, focusing on healthy sexuality, gender-based violence, and intersectional approaches to self-defense education. She teaches courses including Human Sexualities, Men and Masculinities, and Pleasure Activism.

• B.A., Earlham College
• M.Ed., University of Virginia
• Ph.D., University of Virginia

Speidel’s research centers on dismantling oppressive systems through sexuality education and bodily empowerment. Her publications and activism highlight overlooked identities in sex education, including disabled individuals, survivors of assault, and LGBTQ+ communities. She also emphasizes the intersection of race, gender, and power in shaping lived experiences.

Her work includes two books: The Edge of Sex (2019) and Bisexuality Beyond Binaries (2025), alongside empirical and theoretical articles on self-defense training and intersectionality. Her scholarship promotes practical interventions, such as acquaintance assault prevention programs.

• All University Teaching Award (2020)
• UVA Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award (2023)

Lisa has developed a self-defense program focused on acquaintance assault and has taught women’s self-defense for over 30 years. She is actively involved in Take Back the Night, serving as a keynote speaker and workshop leader to empower survivors and reclaim public spaces.