Collins's great-grandparents, John and Betty McCulley Sr., founded Oakville Feed and Produce, later renamed TriOak Foods, in 1951.

[2][5] Collins has taught at Iowa Wesleyan University as an adjunct professor of economics and business.

[4][6] In 2018, Collins served as president of the College Republicans at Iowa State University.

[11][2] In January 2023, Collins began his campaign for the redrawn District 95 of the Iowa House of Representatives, as three-term lawmaker David Kerr announced his retirement and incumbent Charlie McClintock contested the District 42 seat in the Iowa Senate.

[12][13][14] Collins was floor manager for a bill which proposed that the budget allocated to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the three universities be used instead to lower the in-state tuition rate and fund scholarships for lower and middle income students.