Dr. Makella Coudray
Director and Principal Investigator (PI)
Dr. Makella S. Coudray is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida and is the Director of the Sexual Health Equity and Empowerment Research (SHEER Lab). As an epidemiologist and implementation scientist, Dr. Coudray is committed to improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes for communities historically underserved by healthcare systems.
Using an intersectional lens and mixed-methods research approach, her work examines how the structural and social drivers of health inequities, multiple marginalized identities, and discrimination contribute to HIV/STI testing, risk, and prevention among medically underserved communities.
In the United States, the number of new cases of non-HIV sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis continues to increase. Dr. Coudray remains committed to implementing a sexual health paradigm to prevent STIs.
Meet the team
Alexis Rosa
Graduate Research Assistant | Lab Manager
Alexis Rosa (she/her) is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Central Florida. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with Honors from the University of Central Florida. Her research has been featured at multiple symposiums, and she is advancing several projects toward publication to inform public health and clinical practices. Beyond the SHEER lab, Alexis has held leadership roles as Co-Founder and Director of Logistics for Knights PreMediCorum, Best Buddies UCF, and the Medical Mentorship and Shadowing Program at UCF College of Medicine. Her academic and service efforts are guided by a passion for advancing health equity, inclusive education, and community advocacy, with long-term aspirations of becoming a physician dedicated to integrating clinical care, education, and research. As a Graduate Research Assistant in the Sexual Health Equity and Empowerment Research (SHEER) Lab, Alexis has contributed to projects on sexual health equity, perceptions of genitalia among Latina students, and ethical considerations in network data collection through the FIRED-UP Project.
Garryn Scott
Graduate Research Assistant
Garryn Scott (she/her) is a graduate student at the University of Central Florida’s College of Business, where she is pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics. Garryn was born and raised in Nassau, The Bahamas, and made history as the first-ever recipient of the Lewis Foundation Scholarship for her undergraduate studies at UCF. She is now also among the inaugural recipients of the Lewis Foundation Graduate Scholarship, supporting her current pursuit of advanced analytics training. Throughout her academic journey, Garryn has remained committed to applying data-driven methods in healthcare, with the long-term goal of becoming a healthcare data analyst. Her background in biology, combined with business and analytics training, allows her to approach health challenges through both scientific and organizational perspectives. At The SHEER Lab, Garryn supports the Sexual Health Education Empowerment and Knowledge (SHEEK) Project, where she contributes to advancing research on sexual health knowledge among college students. As a female international student and researcher, she is passionate about using analytics to illuminate health disparities and empower underserved communities.
Maiara Klepker Fascina
Research Assistant
Maiara Fascina (she/her) is a Biomedical Sciences major with a minor in Entrepreneurship at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Her research interests focus on mental health and substance use, with a particular emphasis on how trauma and health disparities shape long-term health outcomes. At UCF, Maiara is actively involved in research, volunteering, and mentorship. She serves as a Teaching Assistant for Human Physiology, is a member of the Medical Mentorship and Shadowing Program (MMSP), and volunteers at Nemours Children’s Health and Orlando Health. She is also a peer mentor for students at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences at UCF. Maiara aspires to attend medical school and pursue a career in surgery, where she hopes to advocate for equitable healthcare access and improve patient outcomes for underrepresented communities. At The SHEER Lab, she supports the Fostering Integrity in Research on Ethical Data Use and Privacy (FIRED UP) Project.
Melany Hernandez
Research Assistant
Melany Hernandez (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida (UCF) majoring in Biomedical Sciences. Her research in sexual and reproductive health inequities is influenced by her commitment to becoming an informed and equitable women’s health clinician. Passionate about serving others, Melany is also an active volunteer for local hospitals and organizations throughout Orlando, Florida, working to improve health access for underserved populations. Her academic and service work demonstrate her dedication to health equity, which she hopes to integrate in a career in medicine. At the SHEER Lab, Melany support the Sexual Health Education Empowerment and Knowledge (SHEEK) Project.
Lauren Barthel
Research Assistant
Lauren Barthel (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology. She aspires to become a physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. At UCF, Lauren holds several leadership positions, including serving on the President’s Leadership Council, as Vice President of the Black Student Union, and as the Professional School Informant for the Pre-Professional Medical Society, among others. She has participated in several research programs, including the Diversity in Cancer Research Program at the University of Miami, where she spent ten weeks examining Activities of Daily Living among patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and those living with Liver Cirrhosis. Lauren’s research interests center around public health and health disparities. At the SHEER Lab, she is conducting a secondary analysis on Sexual Health Education, Empowerment, and Knowledge data as part of her Honors Undergraduate Thesis.
Lab Alumni
Denyi Canario Asencio, BA- Research Coordinator
Carla Castro, BS- Research Assistant
Interested in Joining the SHEER Lab?
We are not currently recruiting.
Our lab is hybrid. We have research meetings in our office building. Some members of our team are remote. Flexible work arrangements are possible depending on the research you’re working on.
The SHEER Lab 