Dr. de Silva is an Assistant Professor, a published author, and the Director of Indigenous Teacher Education at the College of Education and Human Development at the University of North Dakota. She recently completed a three-year term as the Chair for the College’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Advocacy (DEIA) Committee. She is a DEIA Pathways Fellow, and in 2023, she received the prestigious Elnora Hopper Danly Faculty Fellowship. This endowed fellowship recognizes a faculty member who continues to exemplify community work that positively impacts youth in underserved communities and shows commitment to developing equitable educational possibilities through teaching and leadership.