Who we are
Dark Sky International is organized by state chapters. We are here to connect the members of Dark Sky who live in Tennessee, to give us a place to connect and join together to advocate for better lighting.
We are chartered by the parent organization and organized as a Tennessee business with a board of directors. Contact us to get more involved in the effort to preserve and protect the skies over Tennessee!
Board of Directors
President
Theo Wellington
Rebecca chose to take on the Dark Sky mission after realizing how distinctive her experience viewing the Milky Way from atop Mt. LeConte, Great Smokey Mountains, was while volunteering at Memphis Astronomical Society outreach events. The beginning of Rebecca's journey with DarkSky started in 2017 by forming a local chapter, and she was instrumental in merging the Memphis and Nashville chapters to form Dark Sky Tennessee. Rebecca resides in Memphis, spending her time off from her day job furthering her understanding of the universe and our shared connections to the cosmos and advocating for lighting improvements for the benefit of all.
Parker is originally from East Tennessee and currently resides in the Knoxville area. He is serving as an AmeriCorps member as part of his daily work. Parker is deeply committed to learning more about DarkSky and is passionate about the issue of light pollution and its impact on human health. In his free time, Parker enjoys running and photography.
"I am a child of the space age, and started exploring the universe with a tiny telescope. Today's explorers should have the same dark skies to inspire their journeys." Theo has done outreach for 20 years with the Nashville Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society, worked at the Sudekum Planetarium, and enjoys daytime gardening and photography as well as hanging out at night.
Secretary
Parker Owens
Board Member
Eric Landis
Board Member
Chris Waldrup
Board Member
Nathan Hubbard
Board Member
Joseph Boyd
Executive Director
Rebecca Love
“Nathan’s journey as an amateur astronomer began at 16 when acquired his first telescope, igniting a lifelong passion for science, nature, and technology. This sense of wonder led him to diverse experiences, including serving as a NASA tour guide at Kennedy Space Center for the STS-127 mission, where he guided the families of astronauts and corporate sponsors through the facilities. Professionally, Nathan is a Reliability Engineer at Netflix, where he plays a critical role in delivering video to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. A dedicated member of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society, Nathan actively engages his local community in the exploration and appreciation of astronomy through outreach at public events and elementary schools. His commitment to preservation extends beyond the night sky to the cultural heritage of Nashville, where he was instrumental in protecting 700 acres of historic homes. In his personal life, Nathan enjoys photography, amateur radio, 3D printing, electronics, and woodworking. As a father of three, he is passionate about inspiring a love of exploration and creativity in his children, merging his personal interests with a lifelong dedication to learning and discovery.”
Joe Boyd was one of the original members of the Nashville Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association. Past President and long time member of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society in Nashville, Joe has spent decades promoting the enjoyment and preservation of the night sky.
Eric is originally from Southwest Oregon where he caught the “night sky bug.” Through the years he has lived in several places where thousands of stars, galaxies, and planets can be seen and experienced with the naked eye, further feeding the “bug”.
Currently, Eric is living outside of Columbia, TN. His interest in working with the Tennessee Starry Skies is grounded in the “bug”. Now he sees light pollution as an issue that presents challenges on multiple fronts. How can cities, corporations, and individual citizens join the effort to darken the night sky for the benefit of star gazing, bird migrations, energy conservation, human health, and more.
Tennessee Advocates
Email the chapter
TennesseeStarrySkies@gmail.com
