Aaron Hughey

Professor, Western Kentucky University

Aaron Hughey is a Professor in the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs at Western Kentucky University, where he oversees the graduate degree program in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Before joining the faculty in 1991, he spent 10 years in progressive administrative positions, including five years as the Associate Director of University Housing at WKU. He was also head of the department of Counseling and Student Affairs for five years before returning to the faculty full-time in 2008.

Dr. Hughey has degrees from the University of Tennessee at Martin, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Western Kentucky University, and Northern Illinois University. He has authored (or co-authored) over 50 refereed publications on a wide range of issues including leadership, teams, conflict resolution, career development, standardized testing, diversity and administration. He regularly presents at national and international conferences and consults extensively with companies and schools.

He also provides training programs on a variety of topics centered on efficient and effective management at all levels. With respect to the current topic, Dr. Hughey has developed and implemented numerous workforce development initiatives over the last thirty years with local and regional companies, agencies and organizations; he directly coordinated the process for three years.



Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Preparing Students to Transition to College and Succeed

"As he sits in class at Eastern Michigan University, a flood of images streams from Tony Saylor's vibrant, creative mind down through his pen and onto paper. Often, his doodling features the 9-year-old character Viper Girl who battles monsters with her pet fox Logan. Saylor, 22, has even self-published three books of their adventures. Saylor's professors didn't exactly welcome his constant drawing, but once he explained it was the only way he could hope to process their lectures -and even to stay awake -most let him continue. For college students with autism and other learning disabilities, this is the kind of balancing act that takes place every day -accommodating a disability while also pushing beyond it toward normalcy and a degree, which is increasingly essential for finding a meaningful career." - The Huffington Post (2013)

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Preparing Students to Transition to College and Succeed

"As he sits in class at Eastern Michigan University, a flood of images streams from Tony Saylor's vibrant, creative mind down through his pen and onto paper. Often, his doodling features the 9-year-old character Viper Girl who battles monsters with her pet fox Logan. Saylor, 22, has even self-published three books of their adventures. Saylor's professors didn't exactly welcome his constant drawing, but once he explained it was the only way he could hope to process their lectures -and even to stay awake -most let him continue. For college students with autism and other learning disabilities, this is the kind of balancing act that takes place every day -accommodating a disability while also pushing beyond it toward normalcy and a degree, which is increasingly essential for finding a meaningful career." - The Huffington Post (2013)