2022 40 Under 40 Honoree: Collin Diedrich
“One of the things that I really want to do is to be an example for kids that think differently, that they’re able to pursue their dreams even if they need to overcome large obstacles.”
COLLIN DIEDRICH (39)
Research Scientist, University of Pittsburgh; President and Founder, Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania
Growing up, special education tutors helped Collin Diedrich with reading and learning disorders, but it wasn’t until he was in graduate school that he came to a realization: “Wait a minute, this isn’t available to everyone?”
He founded the Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania in 2018 to help children and adults with learning disabilities access services at a low cost. The association has tutored students in reading, created multisensory STEM videos, led improv classes to teach life skills and more.
“One of the things that I really want to do is to be an example for kids that think differently, that they’re able to pursue their dreams even if they need to overcome large obstacles,” says Diedrich, who earned a Ph.D. in molecular virology and microbiology and now works as a scientist at Pitt.
