Our Youth Advisory Board is a group of young people (16-28) providing their perspectives to our work and advocating for male contraception.
The opinions of today's youth are especially important for male contraception, as they are likely to be the users of the next-generation of male contraceptive methods. Our Youth Advisory Board members are a group of passionate young leaders involved in advising MCI’s staff on advocacy and research efforts, and they are also peer educators and advocates for male contraception.
MCI's Youth Advisory Board Undergraduate Project Grant
MCI's Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a group of young people (ages 16-28) providing their perspectives to our work and advocating for male contraception. The YAB Project Grant is for undergraduate students interested in working on projects related to new male contraception. Applications for the 2023 grant are now closed, but those interested are encouraged to view examples of past awardees and their projects here.
YAB's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does the Youth Advisory Board do?
The MCI Youth Advisory Board informs MCI on youth priorities and interests, and also advocates for increased male contraceptive research, awareness, and acceptability. We meet once a month and are an entirely virtual volunteer group.
How do I join the YAB?
To join the YAB, we asked that you first have a meeting with our Liaison or Chair. To set this up, email MCI's YAB liaison Kathryn Carpenter. From there, you will fill out an application, and come to a meeting to meet the rest of the board. New members first join the Youth Volunteer Committee (YVC), which is a committee on the larger board that has lower commitments.[email protected]
In order to be eligible, you must be under 28 and able to communicate in English. There are no location or career/field of study requirements. We welcome those from diverse racial, ethnic, gender/sexuality, and ability backgrounds.
In order to be eligible, you must be under 28 and able to communicate in English. There are no location or career/field of study requirements. We welcome those from diverse racial, ethnic, gender/sexuality, and ability backgrounds.
What is the YAB's history?
The YAB was founded in 2018 by three founding members, Connie Dean, Tyrone Fields, and Kathryn Carpenter. We wanted to be able to create a formal space for interested young people to be able to work with MCI and advocate for more methods of male contraception. We started with just the three founding members, and have since grown to add leadership roles, a committee, a budget, and many more members.
How does the YAB work?
Our goal is to support MCI and the field of male contraception through advocacy, education, and by providing youth perspectives.
We meet once a month to discuss our work, plan for future work, and discuss priorities. In between, members are encouraged to conduct advocacy activities or help with management of the YAB itself.
We meet once a month to discuss our work, plan for future work, and discuss priorities. In between, members are encouraged to conduct advocacy activities or help with management of the YAB itself.
How does the YAB fit in with the rest of MCI's work?
The YAB is a board that helps carry out MCI’s mission and helps inform MCI’s advocacy. The YAB staff liaison helps coordinate between MCI and the YAB, and the YAB receives some funding and guidance from MCI. All work that the YAB conducts is under MCI’s mission.
What are some examples of your work? Where can I find more?
We administer a yearly grant for undergrads. Check out the application open now!
We present at conferences and to others in contraceptive development. See our talks here!
We have a representative on the Global Coalition for Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Global Program of Action (AYSRH GPA) contributing to policy/programmatic recommendations in areas including comprehensive sexuality education and contraceptive/family planning access.
We do advocacy in our communities through peer conversations, disseminating materials, and hosting events. We also help develop and inform MCI communications material. We work with MCI to help them understand the needs and priorities of young people, and provide our perspectives on MCI research funding priorities.
We present at conferences and to others in contraceptive development. See our talks here!
We have a representative on the Global Coalition for Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Global Program of Action (AYSRH GPA) contributing to policy/programmatic recommendations in areas including comprehensive sexuality education and contraceptive/family planning access.
We do advocacy in our communities through peer conversations, disseminating materials, and hosting events. We also help develop and inform MCI communications material. We work with MCI to help them understand the needs and priorities of young people, and provide our perspectives on MCI research funding priorities.
What is the difference between the Youth Advisory Board, the Youth Volunteer Committee, and the Campus Ambassador Program?
The MCI Youth Advisory Board (YAB) informs MCI on youth priorities and interests, and also advocates for increased male contraceptive research, awareness, and acceptability. We meet once a month and are an entirely virtual volunteer group.
The Youth Volunteer Committee (YVC) is a part of the the YAB, and is a way for more people to join the YAB. Before joining the YAB, prospective members join the YVC, which has a lower time commitment.
The Campus Ambassador Program (CAP) is a separate youth program made up of youth, including YAB members, who host clubs and events at their college campuses.
The Youth Volunteer Committee (YVC) is a part of the the YAB, and is a way for more people to join the YAB. Before joining the YAB, prospective members join the YVC, which has a lower time commitment.
The Campus Ambassador Program (CAP) is a separate youth program made up of youth, including YAB members, who host clubs and events at their college campuses.
Are there any mentorship opportunities for YAB members?
Yes! By joining the YAB or the YVC, you’re becoming a part of the MCI team. As such, you have the opportunity for mentorship and guidance from our experienced MCI staff and network.
Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Leadership
Meghana Reddy, YAB Chair
Meghana is pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience with a Minor in Computer Science at Santa Clara University. She is the president and founder of the Women in Entrepreneurship Club at SCU, and is also the Director of Projects at Medical Herstory, and founded an online women’s magazine, Her Campus SCU, dedicated to women and women’s health. She is interested in gender inequity in contraception, women’s reproductive health, safe sexual health, and undoing the stigma around a woman’s body. Along with MCI, she hopes to motivate other women to be comfortable and empowered with their sexual health, and to learn how to provide access to safe contraceptive methods for all individuals.
Meghana is pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience with a Minor in Computer Science at Santa Clara University. She is the president and founder of the Women in Entrepreneurship Club at SCU, and is also the Director of Projects at Medical Herstory, and founded an online women’s magazine, Her Campus SCU, dedicated to women and women’s health. She is interested in gender inequity in contraception, women’s reproductive health, safe sexual health, and undoing the stigma around a woman’s body. Along with MCI, she hopes to motivate other women to be comfortable and empowered with their sexual health, and to learn how to provide access to safe contraceptive methods for all individuals.
Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Members
Claudia Opper, YAB Member, Policy Advocacy Lead
Claudia is a Public Health Analyst at RTI International where she works on the Substance Use, Gender, and Applied Research team. In this role, she performs data analysis as well as contributes to journal manuscripts, reports, and scientific presentations to support NIH-funded, gender-focused health research projects. She graduated from the University of North Carolina summa cum laude with a B.A. in Human Rights. She is driven by the belief that every individual, without discrimination, has the right to the highest attainable standard of health. With a background in leading volunteer organizations and advocating for policy reform, she is passionate about promoting gender equity in sexual and reproductive health. 
Bianca Sjoenell, YAB Member
Bianca is currently on a pre-med track at Duke University, and in the process of creating her own major that focuses on the intersection of gender, sex, sexuality, and medicine. She is specifically interested exploring how gender, sex, and sexuality function as social determinants of health for those who identify as non-binary. During her years volunteering at Teen Line, a teen-to-teen mental health and crisis hotline, she witnessed first- hand the anxiety that surrounds sexual health and sexual relationships for a variety of different genders on the gender spectrum. Bianca is not only passionate about advocating for reproductive autonomy for all, but dedicated to working towards deconstructing the social stigmas that surround mental, sexual, and reproductive health. She aims to encourage others to reimagine gender norms in such a way that promotes gender equality in health care. |
Molly Ring, YAB Member, Granting & Research Lead
Molly is pursuing a BSc degree in Neuroscience at the University of Bristol. She currently leads a team of student consultants with 180 Degrees Consulting advising charity organizations and social enterprises. She feels strongly about empowering individuals to engage in conversations about their experiences with contraception, as the strain that current offerings place on individuals and relationships is such an unspoken issue. She is delighted to work with the MCI with the shared passion for eliminating inequality in sexual and reproductive health and hope to see the initiative progress in achieving its mission. 
Lennox Masika, YAB Member
Lennox is an undergraduate student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology pursuing Bachelor of Science in pharmacy. He is passionate about Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, focussing on, but not limited to, safe contraception, menstrual hygiene, mental health, gender based violence, and drug and substance abuse. Moreover, he has a keen interest in pharmaceutical and general public health research and believes that MCI’s YAB/YVC is a significant success over the same. He looks forward to positively impacting his generation and those ahead on SRHR through awareness and solution oriented research. |
Claudia Brewer, YAB Member
Claudia is pursuing a B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with a Minor in Society and Genetics at UCLA. Her goal in college is to gain a deep understanding of human health, from the complex molecular mechanisms underlying disease to the broader social and political implications of the latest bioengineering technologies, and her background is rooted in biological research and healthcare. She hopes that through her activities with MCI, including educating herself more about the field of male contraceptive research, she is able to engage others in meaningful conversations about gender inequity in contraception.
Claudia is pursuing a B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with a Minor in Society and Genetics at UCLA. Her goal in college is to gain a deep understanding of human health, from the complex molecular mechanisms underlying disease to the broader social and political implications of the latest bioengineering technologies, and her background is rooted in biological research and healthcare. She hopes that through her activities with MCI, including educating herself more about the field of male contraceptive research, she is able to engage others in meaningful conversations about gender inequity in contraception.
YAB's Youth Volunteer Committee (YVC)
Connie Dean, YVC Member
Connie grew up in London, England, and was one of the founding members of the YAB while a sophomore at Duke University. She came to America on a swimming scholarship that allowed her to study and swim at Duke in North Carolina where she was introduced to MCI. She did her senior thesis on preference data regarding novel male contraception and how these were influenced by masculinity. She is now in her first year of medical school at the University of Oxford. She misses being in the USA a lot but is still following her passion for reproductive health and justice. |
Diba Dindoust, YVC Member
Diba is a teen innovator from Toronto, passionate about solving the biggest problems in medicine and biotech. She has researched gene editing applications to treat HIV, built projects using machine learning to find cheaper drugs for HIV and is now using computational screening methods to find FDA approved drugs that can be repurposed as a non-hormonal male contraceptive pill. She’s an avid science communicator, speaking at multiple science and technology conferences and publishing on her Medium and YouTube channels about her research. |
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Simran Mayra, YVC Member
Simran is a teen from Toronto, Canada and her mission is to solve hard problems in reproductive biology, and enhance quality of life by improving reproductive health. Currently, her focus lies in developing a non hormonal male contraceptive, by repurposing FDA approved compounds which cause temporary and reversible male infertility. This summer, Simran is working in the University of Minnesota’s Medicinal Chemistry Lab to advance her work and assist with other male contraceptive projects. She is determined to accelerate the slow development of a male birth control pill, to reduce female contraceptive burden, and provide men with more autonomy over their reproductive health. Simran hopes that through her work and involvement in MCI, she can shift the paradigm in contraceptives we have today. |
Tyrone Fields, YVC Member
Second Lieutenant Tyrone Fields is a force support officer in the United States Air Force. Born and raised in rural northeastern North Carolina, he is a graduate of the Public Health Education Department of North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Tyrone previously worked as a Halifax County Public Health Department health education intern. He is interested in men’s health, sexual assault and domestic violence, sexual health, and minority health disparities. Tyrone is an inaugural member of the North Carolina “Be Smart’ Family Planning Male Outreach Team. |
Tamar Jacobsohn, YVC Member
Tamar is pursuing a medical degree at NYU Long Island School of Medicine with a specific interest in women’s mental health care. During her gap year, she was a research assistant supporting the NIH’s Contraceptive Clinical Trial Network (CCTN) in their efforts to develop novel male and female birth control. She specifically conducted research on acceptability of a novel male contraceptive gel and pill. Tamar is passionate about expanding options and availability of contraception so all individuals can choose the method that best fits their needs. She hopes to continue to advocate for reproductive rights during her future career as a physician. |
Aryani Pallerla, YVC Member
Aryani is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Neuroscience, Chemistry, and Creative Writing. During her time at UNC, she worked in the Benhabbour Lab, starting off by formulating HIV/female contraceptive injectable drug delivery devices during her freshman year. As an Inaugural MCI YAB grantee, she was able to work on creating an in-situ forming implant for male contraception. Through being a part of MCI, Aryani hopes to gain a greater understanding of the disparities and obstacles that people may face in accessing equitable healthcare, and how to work towards eradicating them. |
Annanya Sinha, YVC Member
Annanya is a junior from Kolkata, India, double majoring in Psychology and Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies at Carleton College. Dedicated to promoting reproductive autonomy and health equity, they volunteer at Apollo Hospitals and local hospitals in Bihar, India, focusing on patient-centered healthcare and advocacy of vulnerable minorities in healthcare. Conducting IRB approved ethnographic research on gender minorities while having hands-on experience in organizing health camps, fundraising, and LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, Annanya brings a dynamic blend of academic insight and practical activism. At Carleton, Annanya serves as a peer leader, mentoring international students, and as a research assistant at the Sensation and Perception Psychology Lab, and Behavioral Neuroscience T.A. Currently, Annanya is producing a documentary on the experiences of trans women in the Global South, analyzing their identify in intersection of health, law, and culture. Annanya aims to use their expertise and passion to engage everyone in conversations on contraception and facilitate nuanced exploration of gender equity and reproductive justice.
Annanya is a junior from Kolkata, India, double majoring in Psychology and Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies at Carleton College. Dedicated to promoting reproductive autonomy and health equity, they volunteer at Apollo Hospitals and local hospitals in Bihar, India, focusing on patient-centered healthcare and advocacy of vulnerable minorities in healthcare. Conducting IRB approved ethnographic research on gender minorities while having hands-on experience in organizing health camps, fundraising, and LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, Annanya brings a dynamic blend of academic insight and practical activism. At Carleton, Annanya serves as a peer leader, mentoring international students, and as a research assistant at the Sensation and Perception Psychology Lab, and Behavioral Neuroscience T.A. Currently, Annanya is producing a documentary on the experiences of trans women in the Global South, analyzing their identify in intersection of health, law, and culture. Annanya aims to use their expertise and passion to engage everyone in conversations on contraception and facilitate nuanced exploration of gender equity and reproductive justice.
MCI Staff YAB Liaison
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Kathryn Carpenter, MCI Staff YAB Liaison
Kathryn Carpenter is an MCI staff member and the liaison for the Youth Advisory Board. She is a past MCI Fellow and co-founder of the Youth Advisory Board, and is a graduate of UNC’s Health Behavior MPH program. She is interested primarily in health communication and advocacy, and works with MCI to support community-focused advocacy and research, especially with youth. |
