Presenter Bio - Peyton Collins

Peyton Collins serves as the Director of Mental Health Services at the Kelly Autism Program at Western Kentucky University. He has worked closely with autistic college students in both clinical and academic settings.

Peyton has assisted in several neuro-affirming initiatives at WKU That benefit the neurodiverse community. He is an advocate for disability rights and has spent much of his career working closely with autistic college students as they navigate the rigors of higher education.

Peyton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who holds 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 practices for creating a neuro-affirming campus.

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 education, as well as serving as a part-time instructor.