Colby Silvert

Colby Silvert is an Assistant Professor and Co-director of Agricultural and Extension Education in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at the University of Maryland. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida, with specializations in Extension Education. His professional experience includes roles as an Extension Coordinator for USAID-funded projects in Sierra Leone and a Fulbright scholar in Brazil researching fair trade markets for coffee farmers.

Dr. Silvert’s research focuses on evaluation methodologies, planned change approaches, and international agricultural development. He collaborates with educators, farmers, and policymakers to address challenges in agrifood systems, natural resource conservation, and socially inclusive change strategies. His work integrates technical and social sciences, emphasizing capacity-building in program planning and evaluation.

Key areas of interest include specialty crop farming systems, urban pollinator conservation, and gender transformative approaches to smallholder commercialization. He has pioneered tools like Journey Mapping to support behavior change programs and developed evaluation frameworks for Extension initiatives.

• Educations: BS in Horticulture (University of Illinois, 2014), MS (2020) and PhD (2023) in Agricultural Education and Communication (University of Florida).
• Awards: Includes the Charles Stewart International Young Humanitarian Award (2025), American Society for Horticultural Science Award (2023), and Fulbright Grant (2015).

His Extension work spans water conservation, smart irrigation, and intercultural competency training for professionals. He actively engages with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, NGOs, and private sector partners, to bridge technical and social dimensions of agricultural challenges.