main content Lisa Yvetta Collins
Clinical Assistant Professor
Lisa Collins earned her Ed.D. from Lewis & Clark, specializing in trauma studies. In her dissertation, she conducted an autoethnography exploring the experiences of a Black female educator in predominantly white school districts.
With 30 years of experience in education, including leadership at both the building and district levels, Dr. Collins brings deep expertise to her work. Her consultation and presentations focus on wellness, trauma awareness and response, and school leadership, helping schools and organizations foster environments that support healing and growth.
Personal Statement
A respected healing leader, life coach, trauma practitioner, and professor, Dr. Collins specializes in the study of trauma and resilience, offering a transformative approach to healing through personal analysis and restorative practices. Her work bridges the intersection of nature, storytelling, and trauma recovery, empowering individuals and communities to reclaim their strength and well-being.
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Areas of Expertise
•Organizational Culture & Leadership
•Trauma Healing in Organizations
•Wellness-Centered Organizational Frameworks
•School Leadership & Well-Being
•Strategies for Trauma Awareness & Response (STAR)
•Family & Community Engagement
•Building Resilience in Organizations
Dr. Lisa Collins specializes in fostering resilient, trauma-informed, and wellness-driven environments within organizations and educational institutions. Her work integrates leadership, healing, and strategic approaches to create sustainable, supportive cultures that empower individuals and communities.
Current Research
Racial Healing: A Consciousness Journey Through Autoethnography (2021)
Publications
New Book: The Truth About Trauma: Break Patterns, Build Resilience and Restore Joy - Available on Pre-order
L. Y. Collins. (2025.). The Truth About Trauma. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738779294
Transforming Educator Preparation- EdPrepLab July 2023 Lisa Collins and Muhammad Khalifa MULTIMEDIA
Case Study: How Racialized Lived Experiences and Culturally Responsive School Leadership Supported School District’s Organizational Development in Equitable Practices
Collins, Lisa Y. (2023) “Healing Racial Trauma From Public School Systems,” Journal of Research Initiatives: Vol. 8: Iss. 1, Article https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/jri/vol8/iss1/3/
Leadership and Policy in Urban Education: 21st Century Issues and Controversies Chapter- Brown v. Board of Education, Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN is: 978-1-5275-9407-4
Love of Light: A Guide to Peace and Oneness, Archway Publishing 2022
Presentations
Presentation 2025 American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Conference: Dismantling the System, Pushing Consciousness Coaching for White Colleagues, March 2025
Western States Center’s Commons 2025 Civil Leadership Cohort Participant
Association for Comprehensive Energy and Psychology, Energy and Healing Summitt- A Body-Mind and Spirit Event Trauma Healing for Peaceful Living, October 2024
Energy Medicine Summit Speaker, “How Energy Medicine Can Open Up Business Success by Clearing Negative Belief Patterns,” December 2023
UCEA Annual Convention Session Presentation, Racial Consciousness in Partnership Work: Three Faculty Members Journeys, (Collins, Galloway, Barrett, 2023). November 2023
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, Wellness As The Foundation of Community, November 2023
Paltown Board Presentation, Care as a framework for diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Practices, November 2023
Multnomah Educator Rising collaboration with Oregon Educator Association Trust, Educator Wellness, August 2023
Keynote Speaker, Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators (ORABSE) Educator Symposium 2023: Building Educational Excellence, April 15, 2023
Lewis & Clark College Alumni Board Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Presentation Expanding Care to Interrupt Barriers, March 5, 2023
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference, November 2022, Presentation, Expanding Care to Interrupt Barriers, Diversity Inclusion and Wellness Through the Lens of Wellness with Rivera Ridge School, Santa Barbara, CA
University Council for Educational Administration Annual Convention (UCEA) November 2022, Presentation, Examination of a University-District Partnership for the Preparation of Equity Leaders (Barrett, Galloway, Collins, 2022)
University Council for Educational Administration Annual Convention (UCEA) November 2022, Roundtable, Racial Healing: A Consciousness Journey Through Autoethnography
2022 University Council for Educational Administration Annual Convention (UCEA) November 2022, Virtual Poster, Case Study: How Racialized Lived Experiences and Culturally Responsive School Leadership Supported School District’s Organizational Development in Equitable Practices (Collins & Khalifa, 2021)
Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative, Oregon State University, Wellness and Community Health Through the Lens of Trauma Awareness and Resilience, November 2022
Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) Seaside Conference, June 2022 How to Lead with Culturally Responsive Leadership During a Pandemic- Case Study Breakout Session with Salem Keizer School District
Association of Black Researchers Conference, National Black Researchers Week Resources and Research Trauma-Informed Panel, June 2022
Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) Summer and Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) guest lecturer, Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience 2, May 2022
BIPOC Night Wellness Talkback Facilitation, Portland Playhouse, Titus Andronicus, March 2022
Carnegie Foundation Summit on Improvement in Education, Poster Session, Dr. Lisa Collins, and Dr. Muhammad Khalifa with Salem Keizer School District. Case Study: How Racialized Lived Experiences and Culturally Responsive School Leadership Supported School District’s Organizational Development in Equitable Practices, March 2022
TEDx Talk Healing from Racial Trauma, March 2022
Wellness As the Foundation of Community Keynote, Oregon City School District Family Focus Forum, February 2022
Equity Summit 2022 Rising Together, Panelist Virtual Conference, Exploring the Intersection of Race, Equity and Mental Health, February 2022
Carnegie Foundation Summit on Improvement in Education, Poster Session, “How to Build Communities of Support for BIPOC Educators”, April 2021
Equity Wellness in Challenging Times, Oregon City Equity Conference, January 2021
Wellness for Challenging Times in Post-Secondary, Portland State University, January 2021
Academic Credentials
EdD, Education in Leadership. Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling.