We Are DarkSky Texas
Formerly IDA Texas, we are a REGISTERED 501(c)(3) organization.
Welcome to the Texas Chapter of DarkSky International
Meet the Board members and Outreach coordinators
The Texas Chapter of DarkSky International seeks to protect the “Stars at Night” that are “big and bright …. deep in the heart of Texas.” That heritage of star-filled night skies has been taken away from us in many parts of our great state.
Our members are a volunteer educational group working to engage citizens and public officials to keep our rural night skies naturally dark and full of stars, and to help Texans reduce light pollution in our cities and towns. With our work we aim to make lasting changes in the way we all think of outdoor lighting across the state.
Art Schneider
Panhandle Regional Manager
Art Schneider served as the Director of Renewable Energy at Amarillo College. He was the Project Investigator for the NSF (National Science Foundation) Solar Energy Technician grant which spanned a term of 3 years. He has completed 5 other NSF grants at Amarillo College and serves as adjunct faculty in the Physical Sciences Department.
Professor Schneider received his B.S. in Astro-Sciences from the University of Texas Pan American, Edinburg, Texas and his M.S. in Science Education from Western Connecticut University, Danbury Connecticut.
He has served as Department Chair of Physical Sciences and the Division Chair of Sciences & Engineering at Amarillo College where he has taught for 36 years. He was bestowed Professor Emeritus status in 2009. After a long career in education he continues to consult and provide Astronomy and science outreach to children and adults in the Texas Panhandle.
During his spare time, he has served as an Astronomy Ranger Assistant at The Badlands National Park, Astronomy Volunteer at Capulin Volcano National Monument and has led star parties at Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyon State Parks in the Texas Panhandle as well State Parks in New Mexico. He also maintains his volunteer status for the 3 Rivers Foundation in Crowell, Texas and works with many other astronomy observers at the Comanche Springs Astronomy Campus of 3RF, near Crowell. Most recently Art volunteered to be the IDA Texas Panhandle Regional Manager and is working with both Caprock Canyon and Palo Duro Canyon state parks in obtaining their “dark sky status.”
Cindy Luongo Cassidy
DarkSky Texas President of the Board
Cindy Luongo Cassidy is a leader within DarkSky Texas, a founding member of the multiple Hill Country Night Sky groups, and President of the Board for the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky, and is a Texas Master Naturalist (Hays Co Chapter). She was the key player in positioning the City of Dripping Springs to receive the prestigious International Dark Sky Community designation, the first in Texas, and has assisted with many other International Dark Sky Place applications.
In 2019, Cindy was awarded the Crawford-Hunter Award, the highest honor that the International Dark-Sky Association bestows to individuals who, in the course of their lifetime, have contributed an extraordinary effort to light pollution abatement. Cassidy lives in Driftwood, Texas and was the creator of the hugely successful Texas Night Sky Festival®.
D'nese Fly
Western Hill Country Outreach Coordinator
D’nese Fly is an Outreach Coordinator with DarkSky Texas and since 2017 has been involved in educational outreach in the Texas Hill Country, at both Garner State Park and the Lost Maples State Natural Area. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with others, helping them see what is happening around them, in nature and in the naturally dark skies of the area.
D’nese, a retired petroleum geologist, holds a degree in geological sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. She and husband Chip currently reside in Utopia, Texas, where she serves on several boards and participates in numerous community programs.
Frank Cronin
DarkSky Texas Secretary of the Board
Frank Cronin has tutored and taught in Developmental Education at Austin Community College (ACC) since 1987. In his academic career he has served on the board for Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Central Texas Chapter from 1996 to 2004 as member at large and secretary. From 2010 to 2012 he was secretary for The Texas Association of Developmental Education. He became interested in DarkSky International due to his interest in Astronomy. During the 2021 and 2022 ACC Earth Week Programs Frank presented “Darkness at the End of the Tunnel: Solutions to Light Pollution.” Frank retired from ACC at the end of 2022 and looks forward to being more involved in DarkSky Texas.
Gordon Meredith
DarkSky Texas Treasurer &
North Texas Regional Manager
Gordon Meredith has lived in Denton, Texas since before anybody in Denton had ever heard of John F. Kennedy or the Beatles. He grew up enjoying the night skies of North Central Texas back when the lights of Dallas were a tiny green smudge on the horizon. In his misspent youth he took up mountaineering and cycling and discovered the really dark skies of Wyoming.
Along the way, Gordon earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Texas, married his wife Valerie, and together they raised their daughter Gwendŵr. He has worked in the Community Development Division of the City of Denton for over 25 years with a focus on green building. Having been a DarkSky member for over ten years, he has worked to educate others in good lighting, and to preserve those areas in the Southwest where dark skies still exist.
Jennifer Rektorik
Rio Grande Valley Outreach Coordinator
Jennifer Rektorik was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. She is a Texas Master Naturalist with the South Texas Border Chapter and is a DarkSky International Advocate.
Jennifer grew up stargazing on a ranch in south Texas, and over her lifetime has watched the stars dim over the RGV. As a naturalist, she cherishes darkness as part of the ecosystem that supports the well-being of all organisms, including humans. As a dreamer, she loves how the stars have connected and inspired humanity throughout time. She fully believes in the power of citizen science and education to effect positive change .
Jennifer works as the executive assistant to the CEO of Access Esperanza Clinics, focusing on nonprofit governance, strategic planning, and support for the agency’s Board of Directors. She has a B.A. in International Studies and Chinese from Trinity University in San Antonio and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas at Austin.
Karen McGraw, Ed.D.
Lead Outreach Coordinator
Dr. Karen McGraw is the Lead Outreach Coordinator for DarkSky Texas, a DarkSky International Advocate, and a Texas Master Naturalist (Elm Fork Chapter). Karen is passionate about the reduction of light pollution to conserve dark skies for humans and wildlife. Since 2016, she has been involved in dark skies outreach and education for community, region, and state-wide events. She enjoys educating people and changing mindsets through community presentations, conference presentations, and hosting booths/tables at events.
Karen is a retired corporate consultant, business owner, adult educator, and researcher. She holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction and educational/cognitive psychology from Texas Tech University
Laura Gold
Emeritus Member of the Board
Laura is a life-long night sky observer, a DarkSky International Advocate and Texas Master Naturalist (Tierra Grande Chapter) She is in West Texas working to preserve the impressive dark night skies through community education and outreach, in partnership with local governments, business, and the community at large. She attends events and meetings and with individuals requesting help with outdoor lighting issues. Trained in dark sky preservation at McDonald Observatory she was fortunate to work with experts and update the City of Alpine’s Outdoor Lighting Ordinance and the creation of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. She works with the Alpine Night Sky Team to help implement the City of Alpine outdoor lighting ordinance. She believes the night sky is a priceless natural resource that needs to be protected and preserved.
Liam Plybon
East Texas Outreach Coordinator
Liam Plybon is currently an honors chemistry teacher at Longview High School in Longview, Texas. Prior to his time in the academic system, Liam worked as an engineer at Astro-Physics Inc., designing and manufacturing astronomical equipment. When not working, Liam performs free astronomical outreach events in East Texas, showing the night sky to those who have never seen it before. Liam’s current research investigates super-resolution optics for amateur astronomers, and how color vision impairment may have affected early astronomers. Liam Plybon graduated with a degree in Physics from Texas A&M University, College Station in 2019, with a minor in Astrophysics and an award for commitment to service.
Madelline Mathis
DarkSky Texas Vice President of the Board
Madelline Mathis has always been captivated by the night sky. Raised on the fringes of Dripping Springs, she cherished childhood memories of meteor showers and the Milky Way’s brilliance, a stark contrast to the light pollution she encountered upon her move to urban Central Florida for college. This shift illuminated the critical role of the International Dark-Sky Association in preserving star visibility, a cause close to her heart.
Inspired by Cindy Luongo Cassidy’s efforts to secure an International Dark-Sky designation for Dripping Springs, Madelline spearheaded the establishment of the Central Florida Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association.
Her initiative not only bridged the awareness gap on light pollution in Florida but also fostered community engagement through educational webinars, outreach events, presentations to nonprofits, and organizing camping trips to Dark-Sky parks.
For her education, Madelline received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a minor in Psychology from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. During her studies, Madelline engaged in field research in Costa Rica and Portland, Oregon, focusing on nature conservation, protected parks, wildlife corridors, land restoration, and sustainable urban planning.
Her professional journey includes significant experience as an Environmental Specialist II with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where she specialized in environmental compliance with drinking water, submerged lands and environmental coordination, state lands, stormwater management, and some wastewater and biosolids inspections. She also helped support the permitting department occasionally as a certified wetland scientist. This career gave her the opportunity to contribute to the protection and restoration of Florida’s natural habitats and learn how government entities implement state regulations.
Currently, Madelline contributes her expertise to the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force, overseeing the implementation of water conservation initiatives to enhance drought resilience in the Austin area. She also collaborates with Merlin Tuttle Bat Conservation, playing a pivotal role in bat conservation efforts and public education.
With a career spanning various aspects of environmental conservation, policy implementation, and community activism, Madelline dedicates her time and efforts to sustainable development in hope that she can foster a deeper connection between communities and the natural world.
Philip Moon Walker
South Texas Regional Manager
Philip Walker is past President of the Ozona Chamber of Commerce in Ozona, Texas. He and his wife Laura reside in San Antonio. Philip’s background includes 13 years as a Tour Director leading folks through spectacular natural areas as well as leading the transformation of the family’s 7 Oaks Ranch near the Devils River in Crockett County, Texas. Philip’s introduction to dark skies came back in 1997 while living in Sedona, Arizona, an International Dark Sky Certified Community.
Philip currently works with Vanguard Renewables. His career as a Tour Director took him to many of the world’s important and well known protected natural areas in Alaska, Central America and the Western US. During breaks from months on the road he spearheaded a multi-year effort to improve range conditions on the family ranch through unique collaborations, prescribed fire, a volunteer program and grants that resulted in being honored with the TPWD Lone Star Land Steward Award. “Working with positive, conservation-minded individuals out on the land is something I find very rewarding.” In March of 2023 Philip was presented with the 2022 Friend of Conservation Award from the Crockett County Texas Soil & Water Conservation District. www.philipmoonwalker.com
Soll Sussman
Central Texas Regional Manager
Soll Sussman is a board member of Hays County Friends of the Night Sky and is a Hays County Master Naturalist.
He is Managing Director of S Cubed Studio, a consulting firm that specializes in developing cross-border ties and partnerships related to energy and the environment in the United States and Mexico.
Prior to that he spent 21 years at the Texas General Land Office working with a variety of energy marketing, renewable energy, alternative fuels and border energy programs.
Soll spent nearly a decade working outside the United States as an international correspondent for The Associated Press.
Steve Goldberg
Houston Area Outreach Coordinator
Steve has been interested in light pollution for over 20 years because of its effect on nature, humans, and the night skies. He is a DarkSky International Advocate. Steve is on the Board of the Texas Star Party since 1984 and past president of the Houston Astronomical Society. He has given presentations to various nature-orientated groups about the negative effects of incorrect lighting and has outlined proper lighting fixtures and methods.
Susan Fisher
San Antonio Area Outreach Coordinator
Susan is an energetic, dedicated advocate for better lighting to protect all living things.
Her full bio will be coming soon!
