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Nicole K. McNichols, Ph.D.
Author of You Could Be Having Better Sex (Simon & Schuster)
Nicole K. McNichols, Ph.D. is a human sexuality professor at the University of Washington. Her course, “The Diversity of Human Sexuality,” is the largest and most popular undergraduate course in the university’s history, enrolling 4,000 students annually.
An associate teaching professor in the Department of Psychology, Nicole is the co-author of the textbook Human Sexuality in a Diverse Society and delivered the TEDx Talk, “Students On Top: A Vision for 21st Century Sex Education.” She is a frequent contributor to publications such as Psychology Today, The Seattle Times, and The Conversation.
Her debut trade book, You Could Be Having Better Sex: The Definitive Guide to a Happier, Healthier, and Hotter Sex Life, was published by Simon Element (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) in February 2026
Keynote Lecture Topics
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Students on Top: A Vision for 21st Century Sex Education
Nicole McNichols, who lectures a Diversity of Human Sexuality class at the University of Washington, introduces a new concept of teaching students about sex: an open source like Wikipedia. She promotes a sex-positive approach, encouraging students to also contribute to our knowledge about sex. Her research focuses on the role of interactive platforms in understanding and influencing undergraduates’ attitudes surrounding topics related to Human Sexuality. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Nicole K. McNichols, Ph.D. travels from Seattle.