Sexologist Shan Boodram speaks to an audience of approximately 300 in Graham Chapel
The 2026 Masters and Johnston Lecture featured certified sex educator and sexologist Shan Boodram who discussed sexual freedom, intimacy, and modern sex education to an audience of nearly 300 attendees, Feb. 10.
Boodram, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, has worked on a variety of reality shows such as Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle and Peacock’s Ex-Rated as an intimacy expert.
During the lecture, Boodram advocated for a “freedom framework” surrounding sex education which included freedom to, freedom not to, and freedom from engaging in various sexual activities. She highlighted the need for authenticity and flexibility in sexual expression.
She described her experiences with sex education as a young adult and how that inspired her to imagine new ways to talk and think about sex.
“Sex-ed is bad sex: dry, faceless, monotonous, boring. I made it my mission to think of ways to make sex-ed sexy and accessible. I didn’t know it was going to be my career at the time. I just knew it was a passion point,” she revealed.
Boodram shared her own personal anecdotes and practical tips for enhancing intimacy, including navigating sexual life post-partum to an almost threesome during a trip to Puerto Rico with her husband.
Boodram also challenged common misconceptions about pornography, emphasizing the importance of understanding what you in particular want to gain from sexual experiences, not what the media portrays.
“Porn is to sex what WWE wrestling is to fighting,” she said.
The rest of the presentation featured multiple guiding questions, a sexual emotion wheel, and a hand raise activity in which audience members shared relatable moments from their own sexual experience.
Boodram stayed after the lecture to speak with audience members one-on-one, while licensed sex therapists remained available to answer questions and provide additional support.
Cece Mingo, who traveled to WashU for the event, felt motivated and empowered to bring Boodram’s tips back to her own relationship.
“I really just feel so confident to be able to go back to [my partner to] have these conversations, speak about these things, and really just continue to bring us closer,” she said.
Dalychia Saah, assistant professor at the Brown School and organizer of the event, hopes that people examine their relationship with sexuality.
“There is not a right or wrong way to express your sexuality and to be sexually free … I don’t want folks to feel like freedom means they’re pushing yourself to do things that you don’t want to do to prove something,” Saah said.
Karen Bland, who works in Marketing & Engagement for the Office of the Provost, explained how much conversations surrounding sex have changed.
“Your generation has a totally different conversation experience with sexuality, with my generation … we did not talk about this,” she said.
While Bland highlighted the generational shift in conversations surrounding sex, Boodram acknowledged that many people still grow up without access to comprehensive sex education.
“If you’ve been told your whole life you don’t need it, sex ed is optional, then why would you see a poster for a sex educator and think ‘I’m going to give up my free time for that’?” she said. “I acknowledge all of the social conditioning that makes it feel inaccessible to people, but I just want everybody to know whether you need to know it or not you have a right to know it.”
Leslie Salisbury, a WashU alum who attended the event, said she resonated most with a question Boodram posed during the talk.
“Imagine you get to rewrite how society rules sex. What would your book be called?”