David Nicholas, PhD is a Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Partnerships in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. He has been engaged in the Autism community for many years, and has been involved in multiple studies and capacity building initiatives addressing transition, employment and post-secondary education. His research addresses quality of life, disability rights and pathways to thriving for Autistic youth and adults. His work has been presented worldwide, with over 200 peer reviewed publications. Dr. Nicholas has received numerous awards for scholarship impact and teaching excellence, and he is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.