Paul da Silva has over four decades of teaching experience, including 23 years at COM, where he taught biology, natural history, environmental science and environmental landscaping. While on the faculty, he also served as department chair, as Academic Senator, on numerous internal college committees, and as advisor to student organizations. He played key roles in establishment and revitalization of college facilities such as the Organic Farm and Garden, the Science Museum, and the Field Station.
He has maintained strong relationships with numerous Marin community organizations and public agencies. He has directed and conducted many ecological and environmental studies locally and abroad. He has merged teaching and research in project-based learning and community science.
He recognizes our global diversity crisis as the source of important ecological, equity, economic and public health problems. He sees education as an important solution, especially excellent learning experiences that cultivate the unique qualities of different students and inspire all to develop and use their abilities to improve their lives and to make the world a better place.
He has a bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis in ecology, a master’s in resource management and a doctorate in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley. He was elected to the Board in 2020.
