Contact Us /
Share Feedback
Meet the Staff

Assistant Director
Austin Edmister
Austin Edmister serves as assistant director for astronomy at the Detroit Observatory. Austin holds a BS in physics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and an MS in astrophysics from Michigan State University. He has over a decade of experience using telescopes and planetariums to teach about the wonders of the night sky.

Events and Operations Assistant
Megi Mustafaj
Megi Mustafaj serves as the events and operations assistant at the Detroit Observatory. Megi holds a BS in English from Eastern Michigan University. Prior to her position at the Observatory, she served as festival coordinator for the Ann Arbor Film Festival where she managed all operations and events for a small arts non-profit.
Meet our student
docents and staff

Lailyn Borum
Docent
College of LSA, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Eva Chavez
Docent
College of LSA, Anthropology and Museum Studies

Riley Fish
Docent
College of LSA, Astronomy and Astrophysics and Interdisciplinary Physics

Katya Gozman
Docent
Rackham Graduate School, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Sophia Grant
Docent
University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctor Candidate

Jane Heckendorn
Docent
College of LSA, History

Sanil Mittal
Docent
College of LSA, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Xi Yuan Zheng
Docent
College of LSA, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Ahmad Kadri
Docent
College of LSA, English & Astronomy and Astrophysics

Sam Hopper
Docent
College of LSA, Biochemistry and Interdisciplinary Astronomy

Jennifer Dupuis
Docent
College of LSA, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Fiona Jones
Docent
School of Information, Master of Science in Information

Jonathan Meadows
Docent
College of LSA, Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Interdisciplinary Physics

Sara DeSmet
Docent
College of LSA, History and Museum Studies

Maddie Racer
Docent
College of LSA, History

Elinor Langdon
Docent
College of LSA, History

Jerianne Clarke
Docent
College of LSA, Political Science and Afro-American & African Studies

Story Triplett
Docent
College of LSA, History

Mia Lambert
Docent
Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, Art and Design Major

Ava McKenzie
Docent
College of LSA, Biology Health and Society, pre-med

Daniel Heilman
Docent
College of LSA, Astronomy & Astrophysics and Space Instrumentation Engineering