Edlyn Vallejo Peña, Ph.D.

About

Dr. Edlyn Peña is a professor in the Education Leadership doctoral program at California Lutheran University and the co-founding Director of the Autism and Communication Center (ACC). Dr. Peña leads national efforts in advocacy, scholarship, training, and community programs. An award-winning researcher, she studies ways to support inclusion and communication access for autistic students in educational and community settings. Her edited books, Communication Alternatives in Autism and Leaders Around Me, highlight autistic voices advocating for communication and inclusion rights. In 2025, Dr. Peña became the founding CEO of the Dream Community Center, an inclusive recreation and learning hub for neurodiverse teens and adults. 

Education

• Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Southern California
• M.Ed. in Postsecondary Education and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California
• B.A. in Psychology with Highest honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz

Expertise

• Community College and university students on the spectrum
• Inclusion and communication needs of autistic students
• Equitable educational outcomes for college students

Publications

For for information about Dr. Peña's publications, please click on the Curriculum Vitae link.

Grant Funding

For for information about Dr. Peña's grant awards, please click on the Curriculum Vitae link.