Iris Olson, MPH (they/he) specializes in public health communications and has a background in health advocacy. Iris has a BA in experimental animation and installation sculpture from Antioch College, an MPH in health communication and promotion from Boston University, is a full spectrum doula, and will begin their PhD in behavioral and community health sciences at University of Pittsburgh in Fall of 2024. Previously, Iris has worked with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Transgender Health Advisory Group, Boston Medical Center's Vital Village Network, Fenway Health's Getting to Zero Program, Thundermist Health's STI Prevention Services Program, and Harbor Health Services' Community Prevention Department on health education and advocacy projects related to sexual, reproductive, and gender-based health issues.
Iris is currently the Center Manager at the Center for Innovative Research on Gender Health Equity (CONVERGE) at the University of Pittsburgh. In this role Iris develops communications campaigns and promotional materials for CONVERGE and affiliated research efforts utilizing their expertise in branding, marketing, graphic design, web development, social media, community outreach, and event organizing. Outside of their work at CONVERGE, Iris works with BDSM and sex worker communities through research and education.
Additionally, Iris enjoys spending time with their dog, Flapjack, and their snakes, Epididymis and Cervix, as well as making art in their spare time.
Olson, I. Dildo or Dildon’t – A Plug for Sex Toy Regulation in the U.S. The Harvard Kennedy LGBTQ Policy Journal. 2021. https://hksspr.org/dildo-or-dildont-a-plug-for-sex-toy-regulation-in-the-u-s/.