PAUL'S BIO

Beginnings.

Paul is a Boston native who grew up poor. But he didn’t know their family was struggling because just about everyone around them was in  the same boat. He was good in school, earned prizes for his math skills, and was a lab assistant after school. 

He decided early that he wanted to teach math in college. He was accepted at Harvard, MIT and Northeastern, and chose Harvard. Paul worked summer jobs in a resort hotel and in a knitting mill. He earned a bachelors degree at Harvard but needed more education to qualify as a professor. So he headed west and attended the University of Arizona for his master’s degree, then on to Arizona State University, where he completed his Ph.D. in mathematics. 

While at ASU, Paul was hired to tutor Air Force personnel enrolled in an intensive master’s degree program for engineers.

In 1968, he applied for a teaching job at Nevada Southern University in Las Vegas, but by the time he arrived to start work, the university had become UNLV.

 40 years at UNLV

lThe Educator. Paul taught math to generations of UNLV students from1968 to 2008. But before arriving at UNLV, Paul taught math at the University of Arizona, Tufts University, University of Washington, and Arizona State University. Beyond the classroom, Paul advised many young people on the direction of their studies and helped them to better understand mathematics, “the language of science.” 

lThe Dean. For 13 of those years, he was the Dean of Continuing Education and Summer Session. He managed multi-million-dollar public budgets — and he did it with maximum effectiveness. He also supervised a staff of 30 professional and classified employees who gave him top ratings every year. 

Paul was responsible for many community programs involving local hospitals, hotels and schools, the arts, finance, real estate, health, travel, history and much more! He was also responsible for the credit courses taught at Nellis Air Force Base. And he helped ROTC to gain approval for upper division courses (junior and senior level) at the university. 

Paul established UNLV’s wildly popular Learning in Retirement Program (now called OLLI). More than 1,300 seniors now participate in more than 55 courses.

l The Presidents’ Assistant. For five years, he was Assistant to two UNLV presidents. During this period, he interacted with every part of the university. His experience also extended to working with the public and the Regents. Paul understands education from all sides — student, professor and administrator.

l The Innovator. He proposed and negotiated the opening of a Downtown Campus for UNLV. Continuing Education programs were offered there, including the highly successful  Paralegal Certificate program.

l The Evaluator. Paul was chosen to evaluate university programs at U.S. Air Force bases in Idaho and Florida, to ensure that the programs met academic standards and that the facilities were adequate.



 Paul’s own continuing education 

lMetro’s Citizens Police Academy

lParalegal Certification

lGrievance and Contract Administration training

lBanking Practices as related to Fair Housing

lBlackjack Dealers School (for a summer job on the Strip)

lAnd a variety of language courses — Spanish, French, German and Italian. 

      (He is still fluent in none of them.)

 A History of Leadership

lChair, Workforce and Economic Development Subcommittee of the legislative Committee on the Funding of Higher Education.

lFounding chair, Nevada Fair Housing Center

lState President, Nevada Faculty Alliance 

      (Affiliate of the American Association of University Professors)

lPresident, UNLV chapter of the Nevada Faculty Alliance

lCo-founder and President of CLASS!, the non-profit community service
     organization for Clark County high school students

lChair, UNLV Faculty Senate (elected two terms)

lPresident, Tropicana Villas Homeowners Association

lNational Board Member, University Continuing Education Association

lBoard member, Las Vegas Ice Age Park Foundation

lPresident and Treasurer, Western Association of Summer Session Administrators

Legislative Committee Service

   l  Education 

   l  Ways and Means 

   l  Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining 

   l  Government Affairs 

   l  Audit Committee (Chair)

   l  Public Lands (Chair)

   l  Interim Finance 

   l The Funding of Higher Education

Paul was a primary sponsor for legislative bills that would:

 - Advance gender equity

          - Attract film industry jobs to Nevada

          - Correct unfair practices in personnel review (public sector jobs)

          - Prohibit smoking on campuses except in designated areas

He supported a bill that gained bi-partisan approval, offering an alternative route to college for high school students who are stymied by tests but who have the ability and desire to achieve in higher education.

These are just a few of the bills Paul supported or sponsored — some passed, some didn’t. But there’s always a next time …

(Please see LEGISLATION  on this website.)