Presented by: Dr. O. Taylor Collins

Workshop description:

While many issues continue to persist in the central Appalachian region, Dr. O. Taylor Collins, Executive Director of Red Bird Mission, will share how Red Bird Mission brings about transformation through leadership formation.  Red Bird Mission touches the lives of more than 14,000 people in three eastern Kentucky mountain counties. He will also share his vision of creating systemic change in the region utilizing Christian leaders formed at Red Bird Mission.

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

Bio: Taylor Collins was born at Red Bird Hospital, grew up on Jack’s Creek, graduated from Red Bird Mission School, and served as principal for 13 years at the school. Dr. Collins left Red Bird Valley in 1988 to make his contributions as an administrator and superintendent of public school systems in Kentucky and Texas, but has returned to lead Red Bird Mission as its new executive director. Taylor Collins attended Western Kentucky where he obtained a BA in Political Science and Spanish, and a MA in Political Science and Education. He obtained a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee where he was named the 1994 Doctoral Student of the Year and awarded the Arville V. Wheeler Prize by the Peabody Faculty of Excellence.  In 1995, Dr. Collins completed certification in Spanish language and literature for higher education at the University of Madrid in Spain.