Contact Information

Ethan Harrison Freedman

Human Connection Researcher | Social Systems Designer | Digital and Health Literacy Innovator

📍 New York, NY 10021 | Los Angeles, CA 91423

📞 (310) 910-3248

📧 notetoethanh@gmail.com

Professional Positioning

I work at the intersection of human connection, digital systems, and social research to design evidence informed practice, platforms, and interventions that translate human connection, intimacy, care, and behavior into ethical, scalable technology and policy solutions. My work bridges between academic research, community needs, and product innovation, with a focus on building systems that foster healthier digital and social ecosystems for human connection and wellbeing.

Core Competencies

Research and Analysis: Human-Centered Research, Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis, Systemic Reviews, Meta Analysis, Intervention Design and Evaluation, IRB Protocol Adherence

Systems and Product: Social Systems Design, Platform Governance, Ethical AI & Moderated Discourse, Knowledge Architecture, Product Strategy, User Experience (UX) Principles, Product Development Research

Strategy and Leadership: Cross-Sector Collaboration (Academia, Tech, Policy, Public Health, Education) Translational Research (Evidence → Product → Policy), Program Management, Financial Management, Community Building

Communication: Public Speaking, Curriculum Development and Facilitation, Content Strategy and SEO, Copyright, Grant & Proposal Writing, Stakeholder Engagement, Fundraising

Professional Experience and Research Leadership

Research and Systems Design

Social Intervention Group | Graduate Student Researcher

Columbia University | Sep. 2025-May 2026

Conduct interdisciplinary research examining how human connection, health, and wellbeing operate across digital and community environments, contributing to IRB approved studies on HIV prevention, substance use, and relational health.
Translate complex qualitative and quantitative findings into actionable intervention frameworks, relevant policy insights, and scalable models for social impact.
Collaborate with a diverse team of professionals, faculty, clinicians, and technologists to bridge the gap between academic research, clinical practice, and systems level design.

SIG: gAyI Research Lab | Graduate Student Researcher, Project Leader, and Assistant

Columbia University School for Social Work, NY | Sep. 2025 - Present

Develop and evaluate novel prompt engineering frameworks for LLMs to ensure ethical alignment, cultural responsiveness, and equity in AI generated content for social work applications.
Design and implement human-centered and machine-driven evaluation protocols to measure and mitigate algorithmic bias in AI outputs for marginalized communities.
Conduct extensive research via various methodologies across AI ethics, prevention science, and social interventions to build a matrix of evaluation frameworks for AI assisted technologies.

Entrepreneurship and Platform Building

Acquaint Education | CEO

Los Angeles, California | January 2023 - Present

Founded and leading a research driven platform functioning as a human connection lab, exploring how intimacy, sexuality, health, wellbeing, and community function across digital ecosystems.
Architected and deployed moderated forums, knowledge databases, and AI assisted discourse tools centered on ethical human connection, harm reduction, and user safety and experience.
Forged strategic partnerships with educators, researchers, human connection and health systems industry stakeholders to translate lived experience into structured, scalable models for education, information, and platform sustainability.

Industry Consulting, Content Strategy, and Innovative Marketing

Sextech School

New York, New York and Australia | May. 2024-May, 2025

Developed expertise in integrating AI advancements into human connection and health platforms, focusing on enhancing personalized user experiences, product development, and social systems.
Acquired and applied practical skills in designing and evaluating sexual technologies through the lens of UX Research, human centered design, and economic inclusivity.

Red Cheeks Academy | Intimacy Coordinator

Amsterdam, Netherlands | Jan. 2024-March 2024

Examined the history and stigmatization of adult film and media to identify ethical principles relevant to prevention, intervention, and cultural accountability.
Developed frameworks for ethical communication and brand identity grounded in consent, boundary setting, and relational clarity.
Evaluated psychological safety considerations in human connection media production, including scene facilitation, labor dynamics, and professional sustainability.

xoafterglow | Production and Content Consultant

Austin, Texas (Remote) | April 2022-August 2022

Advised on adult film production, leveraging research on ethical and consensual content to inform and elevate industry standards for health, education, and social connection development.
Managed content licensing, restructured production workflows, and implemented new backend platform tools to improve customer service and content organization for user experience.
Drove brand growth by delivering research backed creative content aligned with SEO trends, expanding the company's mission of human connection that is pleasurable and rooted in theory.

Sex With Emily | Content Production Intern

Los Angeles, California | June 2021-August 2021

Contributed to a 20% increase in podcast listenership, reaching 1.8 million monthly downloads, by researching and developing content on intimacy, sexuality, and pleasure.
Supported talent acquisition, marketing, and strategic planning, helping to align the executive's brand with daily operational priorities.

Community Leadership and Program Development

Sex, Sex Therapy, and Research Caucus | Co-Leader

Columbia University School for Social Work | Sep. 2024 - Present

Lead a university wide initiative to build a community of practice for social workers, providing tools and platforms to foster safe discourse on human sexuality in clinical practice, community organizing, and policy.
Spearheaded the creation of a centralized, university based archive for research on human sexuality and health education to preserve and legitimize knowledge for collective benefit.

Partnerships with Children | Social Work Intern

Bronx, NY | September 2024-May 2025

Designed and developed emotional, psychosocial, and cognitive services to students at a Bronx, NY Middle School to help them succeed in academics, society, and their goals.
Advocated for at risk scholars in individual and group counseling sessions in efforts to guide students towards accountability and confidence ensuring strong integration into secondary school.
Located health education curricula for scholars to utilize for better emotional, social, and biological health and wellness (especially subjects of puberty, healthy relationships, and hygiene).

Colgate University Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives | Student Ambassador

Hamilton, NY | September 2023-May 2024

Spearheaded 10+ large (100+ persons) events a year (social mixers, creative workshops, seminars, and activities) focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ students locally on campus with information and resources.
Cultivated reports and analyses on community praxis to ensure implementation of reliable methods for facilitation of events and activities to run enthusiastically, effectively, and equitably.
Coordinated and led weekly meetings to personally assist the director of LGBTQ+ initiatives and map out projects, goals, and resources ensuring maximum engagement with ourselves and community in projects.

Haven Center for Sexual Violence Survivor Support | Sex Educator, Student Counselor, and Ambassador

Colgate University, Hamilton, NY | January 2021-May 2024

Facilitated a seven week sexual health education curriculum to 100+ university students over a span of 3 years to ensure safety and knowledge of sexual climate on campus and in broader society.
Briefed 300+ incoming first year students on Title IX policy, consent practices in corporate settings, and bystander intervention to ensure base knowledge amongst the broader student body, faculty, and admin.

Shaw Wellness Center | Bystander Facilitator and Ambassador

Hamilton, NY | January 2021-May 2023

Partnered with ambassadors for interpersonal and intimacy violence prevention in order to develop positive discourse around sex and sexuality that is sensitive to the domain of survivor and victim experiences.
Reinforced bystander intervention techniques via facilitation of 20+ orientation classes to incoming freshmen to ensure confidence in intervening during preventable problematic situations.

Publications and Research Articles

Available at Acquaintedu.com or ORCID: 0009-0009-5215-8604

Psychedelics and Intimacy Defined as Closeness

Colgate University, Hamilton, NY (2026)

Bradford, A., Freedman, E., & Dinero, R. E. (2025). Psychedelic Use and Intimacy: A Systematic Review of Experimental and Naturalistic Research. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1–12.

https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2025.2577311

Sex Education Methodologies and Advancements to Sexual Technologies

NY and Netherlands (2025)

Assessed and worked first hand with adult industries, human intimacy organizations, and sexual technology companies to think critically about incorporation of human intimacy topics in their industry.
Presented at Love, Sex, and Robots Congress at University of Quebec, Montreal (2025)

Parasocial Relationships and the OnlyFans Platform

Colgate University, Hamilton, NY (2024)

Reviewed literature centering around the role that the OnlyFans platform plays in creating and facilitating parasocial relationships with content creators and their clients – but specifically in the context of interpersonal dynamics with sex workers and adult content.

Sex Education Methodologies and Pornography

Hamitlon, NY and Amsterdam, Netherlands (2023)

Assessed and worked first hand with adult film companies to generate inquiry and question the incorporation of comprehensive sex ed. curriculums to better navigate discourse on pleasure and consent.
Presented at New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium (Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 2023)

Education and Honors

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

Master's Candidate in Social Work | August 2024 - May, 2026

Specialization: Leadership, Management, & Entrepreneurship within Health Care Systems
Relevant Coursework: Foundations in Social Work, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Human Sexuality, Program Planning and Development, Macro Community Practice, Human Resource Management, Financial Management, Program Evaluation.
Specialized Practicum: Social Intervention Group - Columbia School of Social Work | September, 2024 - May, 2026
Generalist Practicum: Partnership with Children - Boys Prep Bronx Middle School | September, 2024 - May, 2025

COLGATE UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Arts | Hamilton, NY | May, 2024

Majors: Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Relevant Coursework: Social, Biological, Attachment, and Developmental Psychology, LGBT Health, Psychological Research Methods and Statistics, Non-Normative Research Methods

SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAINING (SIT)

Amsterdam, Netherlands | January, 2023- May, 2023

WINDWARD SCHOOL

High School Diploma | Culver City, Los Angeles | May, 2020

Skills

Technical: LLMs / Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PP), Google Suite, WordPress, Overleaf, Search Engine Optimization, Canva, Figma, Photoshop, systematic review, meta analysis, SPSS, Notion (Super and AI), GitHub.

Social: Talent Communications and HR Management, Marketing Connections, Creative Scouting, Social Media (reddit, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc.)

Leadership: Sex ed. Facilitator, Camp Harmony counselor, and Collegiate Level Rowing Team Captain

Languages: Elementary Dutch, Intermediate Spanish

Ethan H. Freedman - Professional Curriculum Vitae