Ambassadors

Jose Adorno is an enthusiastic and passionate science educator, who uses his love for astronomy to make meaningful connections with others. Born and raised in New York City, Jose remembers the elementary school trip to the American Museum of Natural History’s planetarium that launched him towards a career in science. Years later, he studied physics at CUNY Queens College, where he served as the Physics Club president, and simultaneously was involved in astrophysics research at the American Museum of Natural History. In his final year as an undergraduate, Jose’s application was selected for a 2.5-month summer research program in Germany, where he worked as an assistant science researcher at The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in Hannover. After earning his Bachelors of Science in Physics, and before graduate school, Jose worked as a full-time postbaccalaureate science researcher on gravitational wave astrophysics for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Maryland. During graduate school at the University of Miami, the opportunities to teach physics labs, tutor undergraduates and voluntarily organize astronomy observing events helped solidify Jose’s passion for science education. After completing his Masters of Science in Physics, Jose began a career in teaching on the high school level where he feels his experience and passion has the greatest impact. He currently teaches high school physics and middle school science in NYC, and has said he is “over the Moon” about joining ACEAP. During his free time, Jose enjoys visiting national parks to stargaze, loves playing music, and enjoys staying active playing basketball, going snowboarding and surfing.

Deb teaches physics and astronomy at Friends’ Central School and at St. Joseph’s University near Philadelphia. Her earliest memory of doing something astronomy related was creating a solar eclipse diorama out of a shoebox, perhaps for the October 1977 eclipse. Like a moth to a flame, she took to the field, joining her local astronomy club in Boonton, New Jersey, eagerly nerding out awaiting weekly episodes of Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” on TV while her friends were busy watching MTV. At Swarthmore College, she majored in physics and astrophysics while working at the Sproul Observatory’s historic 24” refractor, using glass plates to photograph images of double stars and running open houses. She earned her Master of Science in astronomy from the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Hawai’i in 1994 and did doctoral studies of colliding galaxies in intermediate to high redshift clusters both there and at the University of Pennsylvania, lucky enough to spend many nights at many of the telescopes on Mauna Kea. Second only to her love for telescopes, Deb developed a passion for teaching astronomy to all ages. Deb served as the observatory supervisor at Williams College, and that is where she learned the importance of eclipse outreach from Jay Pasachoff, leading her first independent eclipse expedition to St. Kitts in 1998. Fast forward to 2022, and Deb published a book called, “Look UP, Below! An educator’s guide to the total eclipse of April 8, 2024”. Prior to this eclipse, Deb gave more than 25 public presentations and workshops at libraries and community centers from Indiana to Vermont as well as in her local community to spread eclipse literacy. Deb and her husband are brand new empty nesters, but she is filling her spare time officiating weddings, serving as a Lay Minister and making sourdough bread!

Amy C. Oliver, FRAS aka Nerdy Astronomer, is director of Smithsonian STARS — Scientists Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools — a program of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), public affairs officer and science center manager at CfA’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, and SkyNights presenter at University of Arizona’s Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. She previously served as public information and news manager for the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in North America, social media contractor for NSF’s NOIRLab, and associate marketing manager at Clark Planetarium.

Amy is passionate about bridging gaps in access to science learning opportunities. She became a NASA/JPL solar system ambassador in 2016 and created International Livestream Star Party and Lib(r)ations.

For the Smithsonian, she has developed multiple programs for underserved audiences, including Conexiones — tying Mexican culture to Southern Arizona’s observatories, Hablemos de Astronomía — elevating young Hispanic scientists, and Planetario del Viajero, planetarium programming for Hispanic and tribal youth.

As a scientist, Amy is principal scientific investigator of Dark SkyNet — a cross-border light pollution monitoring network — and Project GLOWworm, studying unexpected bioluminescence above 8,000 ft. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Master of Science from University of Oklahoma and DEI certification from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Amy was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2021, currently serves as Chair of the Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code Committee, has published multiple articles and book chapters, and is a 2024 TEDx speaker.

Susan Rolke is a high school science teacher and an active member of Keene Amateur Astronomers (KAA). She loves to share her passion for astronomy and inspire others to look up at the night sky. She has led after school and summer astronomy programs for children. She has been instrumental in starting and supporting the development of astronomy classes at multiple high schools. As a NASA partner eclipse ambassador, she worked closely with members of the community, libraries in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, local schools, and university to provide education and assisted in organizing events for the April 2024 solar eclipse. At a young age, Susan was awestruck by the beauty of the night sky. Her love of the stars led her to pursue a B.S. in math and physics from Keene State College, and a Masters of Science Education from Montana State University. In 2015, she traveled to McDonald Observatory in Texas for professional development to learn about the telescopes in order to bring her experience back to her students. In 2020, Susan was selected to be a NASA airborne astronomy ambassador and had the opportunity to fly on two SOFIA research missions. The information she learned regarding multiwavelength astronomy during her immersive flight week in California she brought back to share with her students and community. She has been on several radio shows, spoken at a variety of forums, assists in hosting the club’s public star parties and is the editor of KAA’s monthly newsletter.

As a kid, the contemplation of the Milky Way in the dark sky for the very first time was a riveting event in Moisés’ life, and he felt hooked forever. The inauguration of the first planetarium in his city, along with reading the book “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan, spurred his interest in astronomy. Very early on, Moisés decided to study physics, earning his degree and master’s degree in theoretical physics from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

As a high school science teacher, Moisés developed a strong commitment to physics, astronomy, technology and math education, mainly focused on 11-12th grades. He is devoted to scientific fairs, experimental designs and research projects. Moisés also prepares students for the Physics Olympiads. He develops computer simulation software for educational purposes, and created a website on physics, astronomy and mathematics called FisQuiMat.

Moisés was professor of physics at the summer scientific campus for high school students at hisUniversity. It involved high energy physics and astronomy based on CERN CMS and Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray workshops (experiments with cosmic ray detectors and data analysis from the observatory). Students worked with team project-based learning through inquiry, experimentation and discovery.

Moisés always trys to improve his science knowledge and teaching skills, which has led him to do international training programs for high school teachers on physics and astronomy in some of the best research centers in the world, such as CERN (Switzerland), LIGO Hanford (USA), Perimeter Institute (Canada), ITER – International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (France) and IAC – Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute (Spain).