Rodney “Rod” McCoy, Jr. has been in public health for over thirty years. In this work, Rod brings his expertise in HIV, STI and Hepatitis prevention and education, as well as his real-life experience as a Black gay man living with HIV. An Oberlin graduate with his Bachelor’s in Sociology and Black Studies, Rod has worked in a variety of capacities for a number of organizations. In his time as an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University, Rod established the “HIV, Culture and Sexuality” course for the school’s Global and Community Health Department (where he still presents as a guest lecturer).

Rod will pursue his Master’s of Education degree from Widener University in the Fall 2019, with a concentration in Human Sexuality Studies. About his studies, Rod offers the following: “I am an openly Black, openly gay, openly kinky, openly HIV-positive man in my fifties. Yet, as positively as I feel about my sexuality, I have encountered people who feel that I should somehow feel ashamed about my sexuality and/or my HIV status. I have also encountered others who have had similar struggles in embracing their own sexuality and maintaining their sexual health. I want to further explore the idea of sex positivity as a social determinant of health, not just in HIV/STI Prevention, but in all aspects of health. This has been the reason for me to continue learning and speaking about the intersectionality of sexuality, race, gender and gender identity and health.”

Silver Spring, MD - Widener University - One-Year Part-Time 2019 HIV League Scholar ($1,500)