Rica Sirbaugh French, Professor of Astronomy
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Rica earned degrees in physics and astronomy from Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked for the Maria Mitchell Observatory, the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy, and the National Optical Astronomy Observatories. Her astrophysical research is mainly on open and globular star clusters, utilizing data from observatories such as McDonald, Kitt Peak, Mauna Kea, and the Hubble Space Telescope. She divides her time now between building MiraCosta's Astronomy Program and working with NASA's Center for Astronomy Education (CAE) as a member of CATS, the Collaboration of Astronomy Teaching Scholars, doing research on, and educating instructors about, the teaching and learning of astronomy for nonscientists.

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Brodney Fitzgerald, Associate Professor of Astronomy
Brodney has taught the equivalent of ASTR 101 and 101L at several schools in San Diego County and online for Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN.

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Conrad Hirano, Associate Professor of Astronomy

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Larry Hernandez, Instructional Associate and Program Support

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Kathy Thiele, Department Secretarial Support

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Jack and Judy Causey
Margaret Eggers
Mike Elliott
Jay Grimaldi
Greg Hope
Bernard Leikind
Richard Tammone

MiraCosta's Astronomy Program directly benefits from the generous donations of equipment and resources from the kind individuals above.
We, our students, and our community thank each and every one of you!