I hold an M.S. in Geology from the University of Montana and a B.A. in Astronomy and Mathematics from San Diego State University. After receiving my degree in Astronomy, I spent several years doing research in solar coronal physics at the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, CO. From there, I accepted a job teaching astronomical observing at Williams College, MA. where I discovered that teaching science can be as much fun as doing science! A growing interest in science education broadened to younger age levels through my work at the Layton Ott Planetarium in Ogden, UT., where I created astronomy education programs for the local school districts in addition to my duties of astronomy outreach to the general public. I joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy here at UM in 1990.