Daniel Collins

Bio

As a dynamic and skilled facilitator with a vast background in volunteering and community advancement, Dr. Collins has become an accomplished leader and lifelong learner of practices to enable youth and adults to better understand their experiences and learning. Currently, he serves as the State Extension Specialist for 4-H Youth & Adult Engagement in North Carolina, providing state leadership for programs such as Civic Engagement, Volunteer Leaders, Club Development, and State Council Teen programs. His previous experience includes serving as a State Extension Specialist in Tennessee, overseeing 4-H Camping, STEM Programs, and Performing Arts. He also served as a 4-H Agent in Grayson and Smyth Counties in Virginia and Sampson County in North Carolina. He is a dedicated and hardworking individual who can work both independently and collaboratively to build lasting relationships.

Programs and Initiatives

• Youth Leadership Development
• Inclusive Programming
• Volunteerism and Service Learning
• Mentorship and Coaching
• Collaborative Grant Efforts

Contributing Websites

• https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/

Professional Honors/Offices/Recognitions

• 2023: Excellence in (TN) 4-H Programming – Teen Programming Team Award
• 2022: Outstanding Dissertation Award, AHS Department – North Carolina State University
• 2019: Outstanding Research Poster, Association of Leadership Educators
• 2018: Rookie of the Year Award, States’ 4-H International Exchange Program

Selected Publications

• Richards, J., Gibson, K., Collins, D., Hall, A. N., Bledsoe, K., & Bonnett, E. (2025). The ChLOE Model of Experiential STEM Education: A Framework for Non-Formal STEM Learning in Outdoor Settings. Journal of Youth Development (In Review.)
• Pontis, D., Collins, D., Greig, J., Rampold, S., Harris, J., & McDonald, L. (2025) How 4-H programs can help rural libraries better serve farming communities. Library Quarterly. https://difc.infosci.utk.edu/ (Accepted – Date TBD)
• Collins, D. P., Jayaratne, K., & McCollum, S. (2024). How to build community networks and resources necessary for a successful 4-H program. The Journal of Extension, 62(1), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.62.01.03
• Jayaratne, K. S. U., Collins, D. P., & McCollum, S. B. (2021). Early-Career challenges of youth development extension educators and effective strategies. Sustainability, 13(16), 9017. http://doi.org/10.3390/su13169017
• Jayaratne, K. S. U., & Collins, D. P. (2020). 4-H International visitor exchange programming barriers, challenges, and alternatives. Journal of Extension, 58(2), v58-2a7. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.02.23
• Collins, D. P., Bruce, J. & McKee, K. (2019) Teaching transformative leadership for social justice: Using literature circles to enhance learning and create deeper meaning. Journal of Leadership Education, 18(3), 158-166. https://doi.org/10.12806/V18/I3/A1
• Bruce, J. and Collins, D. (2020) Photographing Leadership: Making Meaning of Our World in K. L. Guthrie & D. M. Jenkins (Eds). Transforming Learning: Instructional and Assessment Strategies for Leadership Education. Information Age Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/book-978-1-64802-047-620251005

Area(s) of Expertise

4-H Youth Development