Presenter Bio - Peyton Collins

Peyton Collins has had a substantial career with the Kelly Autism Program at Western Kentucky University, spanning close to a decade. His current role as the Director of Mental Health Services at the Clinical Education Complex emphasizes his expertise as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, focusing primarily on individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) enrolled at WKU.

Peyton holds both a Master's degree in Social Work and a Bachelor's degree in Health Science, both obtained from Western Kentucky University. His professional contributions extend beyond direct clinical work, including the facilitation of workshops and engagement experiences centered around neurodiversity in higher education. Previous workshops have concentrated on the following topics: neurodiversity awareness, understanding masking and its impact on student experience, college readiness for neurodivergent students, and best practice for creating a neuro-affirming campus.

Peyton has also played an important role in training faculty and staff not only at WKU but also at neighboring colleges in southeastern Kentucky. His efforts are concentrated on implementing best practices for neuro-affirming services, benefiting both students and colleagues in the higher education setting. Peyton has experience working in both the administration and student services sector of higher ed as well as serving as a part time instructor.