UW Professor Named American Astronomical Society Trustee

Daniel “Danny” Dale, the University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Professor of Astronomy and a College of Engineering and Physical Sciences associate dean, has been appointed as a member of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Board of Trustees.

“It is a thrill and an honor to be elected to this position,” Dale says. “In the statement I provided for the election ballot, my proposed contributions to the society focused on mentoring and training the next generation of scientists. Focusing on the student members of the society would be a natural extension of the work I am already doing, as our No. 1 priority here at UW is our student body. I ran for the office of trustee because I would like to help my professional organization better serve our young, aspiring scientists on a national level.”

The AAS is a prestigious organization with more than 8,261 members in the astronomy field. According to the AAS, it leverages its significant sway to “enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe as a diverse and inclusive astronomical community.”

The AAS publishes international journals in astronomy and astrophysics, heliophysics and planetary science, including AAS Nova, Research Notes and The Planetary Science Journal. Additionally, the AAS holds multiple conferences each year, each with thousands of attendees, alongside proactive involvement in shaping public policy.

“Like any professional society, the AAS provides critical avenues for its members to meet and share ideas, be it through formal conferences, publications in journals or advocacy on Capitol Hill,” Dale says.

Dale has over 22 years of teaching experience and specializes in the research of nearby galaxies. Additionally, Dale manages a National Science Foundation-funded undergraduate internship program; directs the UW Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium; coaches the UW women’s club ice hockey team; and participates in many K-12 STEM education outreach programs and initiatives, such as the UW Windy Ridge Foundation Astro Camp.

New AAS Board of Trustees members will take their positions this summer and will serve for three years.

To learn more about the AAS, visit https://aas.org/.