Donn M. Silberman - Founding Director
& Chairperson
Donn Silberman began his work in optics in 1976
when as a high school senior he volunteered as an astronomy student technician.
There he learned how to operate a small planetarium, maintain the class
telescopes and built his own 8" F/8 Newtonian. Donn attended the University of
Arizona to study Astronomy, worked at the
Flandreau Planetarium and ended up
receiving a
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics (Honors in
Physics). During his years at the UofA, Donn also worked at the
Optical
Sciences Center and taught undergraduate physics labs. Donn served as the
Society of Physics Students President from 1981 - 1983 and as an SPS Councilor
from 1983 - 1984.
Since then, Donn has logged over 20 years of management and technical
experience in various optics based businesses, with a number of patents and
publications to his credit. He has an extensive background in product
management, including conceptualizing, research and development, quality
assurance, product manufacturing, marketing and sales. Some of Donn’s notable
positions include Senior R&D Optical Engineer for Johnson & Johnson’s IOLAB
Corporation in Claremont, California; Operations Manager, Micro-Optics, for
Corning Incorporated’s Advanced Photonics Technologies group in Garden Grove,
California; and Engineering Systems Manager in the
RAM Optical Instruments
division of Newport Corporation in Irvine, California. Donn was also
responsible for marketing Newport’s
Opto-Mechanical product line and introduced
color product photos into the famous Newport catalog. In 1994, Donn received a
Master of Science degree in Technology Management from
Pepperdine University .
Donn has held several volunteer positions with the
OSSC , including Programs
and Scholarship Chairs in the mid 1990’s and Newsletter Editor and Treasurer,
Secretary, Vice President and now President in
the mid 2000’s. He is the Founding Director of The Optics Institute of Southern
California which focuses on optics education outreach and works closely with the OSSC, OSA, SPIE and MESA on the Hands-On Optics and other educational outreach
programs. Donn was recently appointed as the Assistant Director of the
Center for Applied Competitive Technologies
at South Orange County Community College
District's Advanced Technology and
Education Park. Donn serves as a volunteer member of the Exhibits Committee at the
Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California
and on the Leadership Council for the
UC Irvine Beall Center for Art + Technology, where the OISC participates in
their Family Day Events.
donn@oisc.net phone 949-636-65170
