Dr. Stephaun E. Wallace is a research epidemiologist, thought leader, public speaker, and public health and business consultant. He is a native of Los Angeles, California, and currently resides in Seattle, Washington. He directs and manages community engagement and social and behavioral science efforts for the Fred Hutch-based HIV Vaccine Trials Network, is a Staff Scientist in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at Fred Hutch, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington. Dr. Wallace, a US Army veteran, has earned master’s degrees in management and organizational leadership from Colorado Technical University, and a Ph.D. in public health epidemiology from Walden University. 

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Dr. Wallace is a nationally recognized public health/social justice leader with more than 20 years of sexual/public health experience with diverse populations including LGBTQ and MSM populations, and more than 25 years of social justice/community mobilization experience. Wallace is an expert in developing, implementing, and evaluating major public health and human service programs in the areas of HIV/AIDS & STD prevention, care and treatment, and related social services in diverse populations in the United States. 

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Dr. Wallace’s research commitment, inquiry, and interests sit at the intersection of public health and social justice with a particular and intentional focus on the increasing the positive health outcomes of racial/ethnic, gender and sexual minority groups in the United States and internationally, as well as HIV prevention and treatment focused on key populations, including men who have sex with men and transgender persons. He conducts research that is accountable and responsive to key populations, that utilizes a population-centered approach and integrates the knowledge, assets, and strengths of the community into the research. 

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In the House Ball Community (HBC), he is known as the Legendary Stephaun Blahnik, Chairman and CEO of the (Iconic) House of Blahnik, Inc. For 20 years, Wallace has been an active part of the HBC, and has received numerous ballroom awards and accolades for categories and leadership. Wallace has been in leadership roles in the Houses of Elite, Revlon, Cavalli, and Valentino; cofounded the Western New York Council of Houses, and helped restart the Atlanta Ballroom Alliance. Wallace has also provided consultation to the Centers for Disease Control, and other local, and state, and national health organizations and groups around the country on projects addressing the needs of LGBTQ/HBC communities. Additionally, Wallace co‐lead the development of a biomedical HIV prevention-focused intervention focused on the HBC called Project VOGUE. Wallace has been instrumental in supporting the advancement of the HBC in national health policy, as an invited speaker and panelist to a White House commemoration of National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Obama Administration) in 2014, and was responsible for ensuring the HBC was included in the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy Update. He has secured and managed millions of dollars over the years through grants and fundraising to support LGBTQ communities and HBC. Wallace serves on the board of several regional, national, and international organizations, and holds memberships in the American Public Health Association, National Society of Leadership and Success, and several other organizations.